While the Duterte administration speaks of change, somehow things remain the same.
Recall that former President BS Aquino coddled former Philippine National Police Alan Purisima, who had been suspended for an allegedly anomalous deal in acquiring a courier for gun licenses.
Despite the suspension, BS Aquino still made Purisima oversee that attempt by the PNP Special Action Force to serve warrants of arrest on a known Malaysian bomber and a Filipino terrorist. This led to the massacre of 44 SAF men by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and some private armed groups.
Now, in the wake of the brazen killing of Hanjin executive Jee Ick Joo, a South Korean, at Camp Crame—a stone’s throw away from the White House residence of Police chief Rolando dela Rosa—and despite calls for Dela Rosa’s resignation, President Duterte says his police chief still enjoys his trust and confidence.
Trust and confidence, however, are not the issue. The killing occurred right under the very nose of Dela Rosa. This reflects on the image of the entire police force. This is an organization mandated to protect the citizenry.
Of course, not all members of the police force are rogues. But do the people still feel safe knowing that it is the PNP keeping them safe?
My gulay, Dela Rosa admitted that at least one other Korean was kidnapped by corrupt policemen.
Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque also came up with another morbid tale of a Filipino-Chinese sugar trader taken by members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Roque had interceded, on behalf of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdia, to get the victim released.
Roque said the suspects abducted the victim last August. They said they had a warrant of arrest on the grounds that the victim was involved in the illegal drug trade. They threatened to take his photo with 20 kilos of shabu if his family did not pay ransom. The family soon paid P1.6 million.
That is only one story. There could be many more untold kidnapping-for-ransom and extortion by the police. After all, didn’t President Duterte promise to protect and defend them?
Now these incidents are coming out of the woodwork. Some members of the police have become corrupt and brazen.
This is why I believe Duterte’s war on illegal drugs should be accompanied by a cleansing of the police force.
He needs to retain the people’s faith and confidence in the PNP.
The President said Dela Rosa should not be blamed for the Korean’s death because he did not commit the crime.
Dela Rosa said he wants to melt in shame. If he truly had some self-respect, he should resign irrevocably.
Obviously, he does not.
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House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez now tells reporters there are actually three members, not only two, of the House of Representatives who are on the President’s list of narco-politicians.
The Speaker refuses to name them even as he says one of them hails from Mindanao.
My gulay, now every congressman in the House is suspect, particularly those from Mindanao.
I don’t know if Alvarez realizes that in effect, he has condemned all members of the House. They should demand that he identify who those narco-politicians are.
It is this kind of publicity that erodes public faith in politics.
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The extraordinary number of drug users and pushers points to some things President Duterte must attend to right away.
First is the congestion in jails. Prisoners live in sub-human conditions. Sometimes they sleep on the stairs or take turns sleeping because there is just no space.
It’s no wonder foreign media likes to show photos of these conditions, for the world to see.
Second, special courts should attend to those who have surrendered. The courts must decide whether or not they deserve to be detained.
Drug addicts are victims.
Now, pushers have to get the punishment they deserve.
During the martial law days of the Marcos regime, there were special courts assigned to handle drug cases. This could be replicated.
More drug rehabilitation centers must be built. The menace can only succeed if the demand is contained.
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Every time there’s news about the SM group, whether it is building more shopping malls here or in China where there no less than seven malls already, and every time the Sy family is in the news, I get flashbacks. In 1948, I first met this Chinese man selling imported signature shoes on Carriedo St. in Manila. I was then a student at Ateneo.
That man is Henry Sy Sr., now the richest Filipino.
Back in the day, he bought surplus shoes from Boston and sold them here. Soon enough, he put up SM, the initials of Senen Mendiola. He was his partner since at that time, foreigners were forbidden to get into the retail trade.
After a few more years, Sy started building shopping centers and megamall. He used to take for coffee and snacks at Cafe Elysee at SM Makati.
Henry is blessed to have his children. They pursued their father’s visions and goals.
