Punchline
Arrogance of LTO
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
THE PNoy government is fast losing public support as shown by recent public surveys. And it’s easy to surmise it is largely due to misguided policies of its agencies, the most recent of which is the Land Transportation Office’s “No Plate, No Travel” policy and long overdue issuance of plastic driving licenses. Of late, the Philippine National Police has not released the long overdue permits to carry firearms outside residence to licensed gun owners for the latter’s self-defense.
Motorists all over the country are aghast at the recent refusal of LTO to heed Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s call to declare a moratorium over the implementation of its “No Plate, No travel” policy. The sudden strict implementation has caused a lot of confusion and consternation knowing fully well that it was LTO that created the problem.
LTO’s arrogance showed when it had the temerity to invoke the law behind the “No Plate, No travel” in rejecting the call for a moratorium. It did so even after failing to issue new plates that motorists have paid for. Administrative cases ought to be filed against LTO officials in national, regional and local levels for collecting fees for new plates that it cannot issue. (Remember the 2010 order of the Supreme Court directing the refund of the P350 fee LTO collected from each vehicle owner for the implementation of the RFID tags? LTO never refunded the millions it collected!).
As Sen. Cayetano correctly pointed out – why is government punishing the taxpaying public over its inefficiency and incompetence to carry out its mandate?
Curiously, PNoy has not shown the least concern over the plight of his “Bosses” in the country over LTO’s punitive policy.
And where are the other senators and congressmen who profess to do everything “for the good of the country”? Why are they not up in arms over this issue that impacts on people’s mobility? Are they afraid of catching the ire of PNoy over this?
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PNOY’S UTANG NA LOOB. Then even as incidents of shooting and killing of a defenseless citizenry by hitmen-riding-in-tandem, the PNoy government did not think it urgent and important enough to make sure that legitimate gun owners are given the permit to carry their firearms outside their homes for their self-defense.
And the unwarranted delay was simply caused by Mr. Aquino’s concern for his shooting buddy, the disgraced and discredited former PNP chief Alan Purisima. PNoy could not get himself to appoint a permanent replacement for Mr. Purisima so soon obviously out of his utang na loob. It obviously doesn’t matter to him if PTCFORs are not issued early enough as long as he does not hurt Mr. Purisma’s feelings.
What’s so wrong with PNoy? No, don’t answer that.
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WHERE’S MR. POGI? We have to hand it to Guv Spines. His administration was again cited for excellence in governance. To be cited for being the cleanest, safest and greenest province in the region is no simple feat. I am certain the other provincial governments would have done more if they knew what Guv Spines was capable of doing as chief executive.
However, while it can be conceded that Pangasinan is still the safest in the region, being the “safest” still has relative implications. I pray that Guv Spines does not take the award as “done enough” particularly in the war vs. illegal drug.
With no permanent provincial police director to be had, the province continues to struggle with it and there is no sign that it is winning the war. The fact that children are already being used as drug couriers, that some policemen are already risking their integrity as “look-outs” and pushers, these tell us that the drug syndicates are already beginning to be well entrenched in our homeland.
Unfortunately for Guv Spines, he cannot rest on the new laurel on his head. For every victim that falls into the hands of the drug syndicates, translates to one leaf that falls from his crown. I had personally hoped that his son Pogi, the Guv’s wannabe successor, would find it in himself to lead the charge against illegal drugs as head of the provincial barangay federation. But it doesn’t look like he is up to it.
Mr. Pogi explains that it is not the job of legislators (board members like him) to do the executive’s job. Ooops, he forgets that as a barangay kapitan (and the top honcho no less) he wears the executive hat! It is in the barangays where many battles can be won but he’d rather just issue directives and nothing more.
I’m afraid the son still has much to learn from the illustrious father.
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COJUANGCO VS. DRUG LORDS? In the same vein, I wonder what Mr. Mark Cojuangco, the early bird in the race for governorship, thinks he can and will do to protect the citizenry from the clutches of drug syndicates.
Mr. Cojuangco has been seen making the rounds, pressing the flesh, presenting himself as the next no-nonsense executive after Guv Spines. Except for initiatives he had taken for the agriculture sector and his campaign to widen our highways, he has been absolutely quiet in our war vs. illegal drugs!
What will you be, Mr. Cojuangco? Will you do all to save thousands of families from the clutches of evil drug syndicates? Can you and will you be the better guv in this respect? Hmmm…let’s hear it from Mr. Mark C!
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FUTURE TRAINING CAMPS? Here is something for the mayors, AFP and the PNP provincial leadership to look into.
There is that raw report that a group of businessmen is fronting for the acquisition of a huge tract of land in eastern Pangasinan’s mountainous area by a dubious group. In one failed negotiation, the representative of the group reportedly offered to buy a 20-hectare property at whatever price but landowner rejected the offer.
The landowner reportedly suspected his area would be used for some nefarious training activity that could be related to threats of war if the Bangsamoro Basic Law is not passed, and he is not willing to risk being suspected to be part of an illegal armed activity.
Indeed, nothing should be risked at this time.
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OMBUDSMAN AT WORK. While many in government service continue with their incurable plunder of public funds, the Office of the Ombudsman has been equally busy catching up with them. This month alone, the Ombudsman reported the filing of following cases. Read on!
Former Albay mayor, 5 others charged for fertilizer fund scam. Ombudsman charges ex-Palawan congressman for fertilizer scam. Ex-Leyte mayor suspended for tolerating assault of PENRO exec.
Pichay, Gatchalians, 20 others indicted for LWUA’s bank take-over. Cebu mayor indicted for fertilizer fund scam. Ombudsman charges Surigao City mayor with graft. Ombudsman suspends Mactan airport officials. Ombudsman indicts Cebu Mayor, 7 others for illegal mining. Ombudsman indicts Marine officers for clothing allowance scam.
Ombudsman axes DA officials for PDAF scam. Ombudsman wins graft case vs PCIC exec. Basilan execs face criminal raps for delayed GSIS, Pag-IBIG and tax remittances.
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