Think about it
The dramatic rise of Pingkoy Duque
By Jun Velasco
TWO front-page news items in the papers, last week Pangasinenses must have received with gusto point to Health Secretary Pingkoy Duque as first, a shoo-in for the administration’s senate slate in 20l0, and second, his topping the list (as head) of the least corrupt government agency in the country — the Department of Health.
When we last asked him about his possible entry to politics, particularly the senate, Pingkoy said it would depend on the President. What he meant was if PGMA says go, it’s go. We quickly relayed the matter to his doting brothers – Dr. Ado, Cesar, and Gons – and they all sounded like the idea isn’t bad at all, and that it would be best to look forward to it because the Duques do not run away from a good fight.
What’s interesting here is that unlike many administration officials who are distancing themselves from the kiss of death from their unpopular boss, Pingkoy is unafraid to stick to “what is fair.”
We saw this streak in the writing of DoH press releases by his media staff headed by Ed Hilario who was all advised to give the credit to the President about DoH’s achievements.
It is Pingkoy’s what-you-see-is- what-you – get demeanor that has won the Manila press’ vote about his trustworthiness. It probably is this marked simplicity of the man that has easily shot him to public acceptability.
One of the DoH staffmen often worries about his work ethic. “Walang hinto sa trabaho.“ This probably explains DoH’s consistent top slot in performance by private or government polls.
Administration critics like Bishop Oscar Cruz give Pingkoy the highest ratings on performance and work ethic.
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The swift solution of the kidnapping case involving Mangaldan Mayor Hermie Romero’s 8-year old grandson should be credited to the well coordinated work of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police, according to the mayor himself.
But it could also be due to the Romeros’ excellent relations in the community. Based on a testimony by one of the kidnappers, he was forced to confess his participation in the crime and return his share of the ransom money “because to cross the kind mayor is unbearable.”
It will now be remembered that the Mangaldan caper is a triumph of good over evil. The story has touched the hearts of Mangaldanians who regard Mayor Romero as still electorally unbeatable. In case you don’t know yet, Hermie has a secret weapon; rather, he has a powerful campaign manager, Gloria Romero, his beloved wife.
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One of these days the biggest police headquarters to be built in Pangasinan is an Pl8 million edifice that is being assiduously pushed by Mayor Al Fernandez and Police Chief Sonny Verzosa.
Funding would be shared by the House of Representatives thru Congressman Joe de V’s CDF, the PNP thru Director General Jess Versoza and the city of Dagupan.
This dispatch seems to complement what the PNP top honcho launched with Governor Amado Espino and Mayor Rey Velasco a regional model of a police facility in Sta. Barbara town. Sta. Barbara’s police chief is the popular Colonel Eric Noble.
This is great police news. But more than the physical facility, what we need more is quality police performance such as the solution of the many unsolved killings in Pangasinan, illicit drugs and illegal gambling.
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