Punchline
Make the police accountable
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
The provincial police have shown in recent weeks that, yes, it can win battles in the war against guns-for-hire and kidnap-for-ransom syndicates in the province. The police’s recent strings of success demonstrated that all that was needed was to intensify its intelligence network and have the will to win as the public’s protector.
But last week, the guns-for-hire again claimed three more victims, among them a barangay official, killing them in broad daylight. In all cases, the assassins rode motorcycles in tandem. Our Smiley PD Barba lost again!
However, what the circumstances indicate are telling enough to guide our lawmakers and law enforcers on how to further effectively neutralize the crime syndicates.
First of all, it’s obvious that the assassins’ groups are not about to stop with the arrests of a few of their kind. Their ratio of success remains high! They are getting paid, now reportedly for the price of a brand new high end cellphone, and the police remain clueless on their identities.
Secondly, And without a doubt, the use of motorcycles has become the most convenient getaway vehicle.
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The scheduled public hearing on the proposed curfew for persons riding motorcycles in tandem should bring into sharper focus what ought to be done.
Firstly, to believe that a curfew can curtail the movements of the assassins is completely off! A set curfew will actually tell the assassins when not to surface and still not hamper their operations since they can kill with impunity anytime of the day. Inversely, a curfew will hamper intelligence work and offset a surprise inspection of unsuspecting armed riders. Besides, how many policemen in our towns actually patrol the streets and man checkpoints between 11pm and 3 pm? Let’s not kid ourselves into believing that the ordinance can help; instead it will just lull us into believing that something is being done when there isn’t any.
The checkpoints only serve their purpose if these are set up in areas least expected by unsuspecting criminals. Let the criminals feel they can roam any time so an earnest police force can catch up with them. However, a bumbling lazy police force is the doctor’s prescription for the burgeoning trade of killing people.
Yet, the provincial board need not look elsewhere to help if, indeed, it wants to help. It has the inherent power to help make an agency produce results without adopting a useless ordinance. The legislative’s power over the purse can determine how and where funds for intelligence work and special operations are being spent, whether these are being wasted or more funds are needed and demand accountability and results from the police.
The guiding principle can only be: Only the police know how to beat the criminals but they must be held accountable. In short, make Smiley PD Barba accountable for the intelligence funds.
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ADOPTING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. Last week, the PUNCH joined three board members in protesting the manner and the rationale with which the provincial board adopted DILG Sec. Ronaldo Puno as adopted son of Pangasinan. Our objection was not about the choice of Mr. Puno but the whimsical and flimsy reason presented to justify it. Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, the principal author, must have thought nothing of Mr. Puno for merely asserting that he is doing a good job and is set to visit the province, period. Even Mr. Puno, my former classmate and certainly one of the more astute political strategists around, would not be flattered by an empty accolade that is clearly politically motivated and devoid of any clear significance.
The move of Board Members Alfie Bince, Angel Baniqued and Jeremy Rosario to file the draft “Ordinance providing for a mechanism in the matter of the Adoption of Persons as Son and/ or Daughter of Pangasinan”, is therefore timely. To avoid a repeat of the same official mindless blooper, the proposed ordinance defines who may be adopted and the process by which the honor can be accorded.
There is, however, one provision I read from the copy sent to me that among those who may be adopted are “Those related to any member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan within the fourth degree of consanguinity of affinity. Are the authors saying, the honor is reserved only for their relatives? Duh? I hope the provision was meant to read: “Those who cannot be adopted are those related to any member of the, otherwise . . . the board would be better off with this ordinance.
I can imagine whose relatives will be honored next in the months ahead but perhaps Mr. Bince can make sure his proposed ordinance will not allow it.
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