Punchline
Jueteng, the new “old hot potato”
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
WE first saw how the honorable members of the provincial board dishonored themselves by castigating and declaring retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz persona non grata in a manifesto under the pretext of expressing support for Guv Spines who was tagged as the one responsible for the continued operation of jueteng in the province. That got a resounding boo from Catholic clergy and laity in the province. (I am told that AGCO Alliance is preparing its own manifesto in support of the archbishop while condemning the provincial board members who declared him persona non grata).
Indeed, it was one thing to express support for the governor but to declare the respected archbishop as persona non grata based on their own politically motivated guidelines was an overkill that left the manifesto suspect and without credence.
Now come the Pangasinan Mayors’ League and the Vice Mayors’ League adding their voices to the snowballing of support for Guv Spines but prudently minus the provincial board members’ call to declare the archbishop person non grata. The manifestos (as published in this issue) cited documents and circumstances to buttress arguments belying the allegations of Archbishop Cruz that Guv Spines was behind the thriving jueteng industry in the province.
To the mayors’ and the vice mayors’ credit, their manifestos seek to absolve the governor of any participation or knowledge of jueteng in their respective towns. That’s the obvious part. But what the mayors and the vice-mayors unwittingly did was to call attention to their own roles in the proliferation or eradication of jueteng in the future. The described situations in the manifesto may have served the cause of the seemingly beleaguered governor for now but the test of the pudding is in the eating. The signed manifestos cannot but be interpreted to mean that they, the mayors and vice mayors, fully support the order of Guv Spines to stop jueteng in their towns, and would see to it that jueteng will not resurface in their towns. Congratulations!
But what happens if jueteng resurfaces in their respective towns in a week or two as some reports reaching us already indicate to have started? Based on their described directives from Guv Spines, any resurgence can only mean that they are defying Guv Spines’ order to them and the police to stop jueteng 24/7, wouldn’t it? Tsk-tsk… so careful… careful!
I believe similar manifestos from other leagues of officials in government are forthcoming as well. That’s fine and dandy. It speaks well of the popularity of the leadership of the governor for now. What happens next is worth watching.
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GUERILLA JUETENG OPERATIONS? It was reassuring for a while to hear P/Supt. Harris Fama, the deputy provincial director, proclaim to all and sundry that jueteng in the province is a “Triple No”. Translation: Jueteng stopped-stopped-stopped.
Well, I think he may have spoken too soon because it certainly looks like some city and town police chiefs are out to embarrass him and his new boss, P/Sr. Supt. Rosueto Ricaforte. Kubradores are back combing the not too visible barangay streets with a vengeance and initial sightings have been made in Dagupan City. PUNCH sources said the announced winning combination numbers as of Friday 3pm were 36-8!
Since no new arrests have been made so far since Guv Spines gave his historic order, it seems plausible that the so-called “guerilla ops” have started with the blessings of some mayors and police chiefs.
But before Guv Spines and Mr. Ricaforte start explaining themselves as being helpless against “guerilla” operations of jueteng lords, they must be told that the alibi does not speak well of their own capacity to lead. If they cannot command respect and instill fear in the hearts of criminal minds, then they have defaulted in the law enforcement game.
“Guerilla” operations can only happen under two circumstances: 1) If the jueteng lords would dare thumb their noses at the civilian and police authorities who know them. (The police chief who does not have a peg on the usual and new suspects in illegal gambling in his area of jurisdiction has no business staying on as chief). And, 2) If the mayor and the police have a tacit understanding and arrangement with jueteng operators on how, where and when to operate the “guerilla” way. Either way, a “guerilla” jueteng operation does not speak well of the governor and his police provincial director and the mayor and his police chief. To put it bluntly – Hindi sila kinakatakutan o kasabwat sila!
The only acceptable response now from Mr. Ricaforte is to start implementing the national “One-Strike Policy”. Short of this, Mr. Ricaforte would make Guv Spines a liar since contrary to his claim, there is jueteng in the province.
Go for it, Mr. Ricaforte! Making at least 3 Sunday Punches among erring police chiefs this week should lick the problem.
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WHAT HAPPENED TO SAN ROQUE DAM? As the province recalls this month the massive destruction it suffered from the flooding brought on by Typhoon Pepeng compounded by the deadly releases of water from San Roque Dam, the victims have yet to see what and how our local government units have learned from it for their benefit.
When thousands of families suddenly found themselves homeless, farmers and businessmen saw millions in farm produce and assets washed away, they earnestly prayed for justice and early compensation from those who were responsible. In response, the Capitol quickly gave the assurance that it would pursue legal action against San Roque Dam operators to make the latter account for their irresponsible acts.
Alas, the Espino administration and other towns and cities have failed to live up to their promise to make the management of San Roque Dam pay. To date, two private groups have filed separate claims for their own separate interests but no government unit has filed even a mere P100,000 claim against the dam operators, and neither has the San Roque Dam operators attempted to mitigate the losses with any offer to compensate.
All that the provincial government has won as concession from the San Roque Dam management is to have its own representative sitting in the control room to monitor decisions of operators during calamitous times. And while a series of meetings had been held between our provincial and officials of affected towns/cities and the dam’s management to discuss the amended “protocol” for water releases, nothing is told the public about the new protocol that could give residents assurance of adequate protection.
The victims deserve to be told what they can still expect if any from their elected officials after all the brave words and promises made at the height of the calamity and during the rehabilitation period.
