Lim and Lacson: The deadly duo

At long last, there is one specific discernible thrust that the Estrada administration will go for -- law and order. The tandem of Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo "Fred" Lim and Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Panfilo "Ping" Lacson is a clear message to the law-breakers, whether they be cops or plain hoodlums, that enough is enough. Yes, Lim and Lacson are going to send home a strong message, that crime does not pay, that anarchy in Philippine society must come to an abrupt end.

There were some in the corridors of power who lobbied and intrigued against Fred Lim. They are mainly those who have political and vested interests to protect. In the end, President Erap realized that the great majority of people who elected him into office lust for law and order, which was one of his major campaign promises. And certainly, Fred Lim can contribute much to the attainment of that goal.

The intriguers, too, tried to block Lim's appointment by saying that he and Ping Lacson would be a mismatch. Wrong. Even before he became PNP chief, Ping already had a high regard for Fred. And Fred, too, openly showed his support for Ping as PNP headman. "Only Ping Lacson can clean up the police force," Fred told not only his close friends but the radio audience as well, who listened to his daily afternoon program.

Lim and Lacson: what a deadly combination! Both are aksyon agad men. Both know their business. Before we know it, law and order shall be restored in this troubled land.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto has stepped into the picture. He has ordered a preliminary probe into the reported irregularities in the controversial bidding of the Land Titling Computerization Program (LTCP) of the Land Registration Authority. Desierto's move is intended to protect the government, by assuring that the national treasury will not be deprived of millions, maybe even billions, of pesos in revenues. Also, Desierto's fact-finding probe helps put an end to the proliferation of fake land titles.

I understand that the Ombudsman's investigation will focus on the bidding process. Were there loopholes that enabled some bidders to have an undue edge over their competitors? Was there transparency in the bidding rules and requirements? And is it true that large sums of money were spent to give a "nice time" to the members of the LRA Pre-Qualification, Bids and Awards Committee? And how about the provisions of the Build-Own-Transfer Law? Were these followed in the bidding process?

Since the project of computerizing the land titling system is very important, it would be a distinct public service if Ombudsman Desierto can expedite the investigation of the bidding process. Once the matter is clarified, then the LTCP project can move full steam ahead, without any complaints at all from the participating bidders.

Just to give Jaywalker readers an idea of how difficult it is for an indigent patient to cope with the cost of hospitalization, let me cite the case of 12-year-old Aprilyn Tabino of Candelaria, Zambales, the girl sick with Cryptococal meningitis, whose confinement at the Philippine Children's Medical Center began on November 5, 1999. Here is how the cost of hospitalization piled up, as of January 3, 2000; anesthesia, P2,525; child neuro scan, P850; emergency room, P331.50; floor procedures, P2,798.25; OR/surgery, P6,216.90; pathology, P9,297.50; PF, P455; pharmacy, P148,794.40; radiology, P2,000; and room/board, P28,050 -- or a grand total of P201,419.55.

Now, how can a poor family like that of an ordinary farmer cope with such a staggering P201,000 -- and Aprilyn will still be staying in the hospital for quite some time? The young girl's 27-year-old brother, Jethred, who also has his own family to support, is moving heaven and earth to raise that mind-boggling amount, plus more that will pile up during the next few weeks.

Look at how the Tabino family gave partial payments for Aprilyn's medical treatment at PCMC: P2,400 on Nov. 5; P2,500 for Nov. 7; P447 for Nov. 9; P272 for Nov. 10; and P440 for Nov. 12. It was at this stage that the Good Samaritan Foundation entered the picture. The payments to the hospital then went this way, thanks to the Christian-hearted individuals who sent their donations to the Foundation: P10,000 for Dec. 8; P10,000 for Dec. 13; P450 for Dec. 18; P20,000 for Dec. 22; and P95 for Jan. 2.

As of today, the Good Samaritan Foundation has already appropriated P45,000 for Aprilyn. The amount of P50,000 has also been deposited with the hospital, in trust for Jet's sister. Quezon City Mayor Mel Mathay gave P30,000, while Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma donated P20,000 from her discretionary funds as chairperson of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Thanks a million to all those who are lending a helping hand to the family of Aprilyn.

Dante Lantin, chairman of the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board, must have committed a grave mistake when he wrote a formal letter addressed to the STAR editor, saying that the LTFRB is not to blame for the anarchy in Metro Manila streets, perpetrated by undisciplined taxi drivers during the Yuletide season. Now, two enraged STAR readers reacted, by writing strongly-worded letters that really pilloried Lantin's leadership.

Said one letter-writer, who comes from Angeles City, Pampanga, and who asked me to withhold his name: "It appears that Chairman Lantin is passing the blame to the MMDA and PNP. He argues that the LTFRB has no law-enforcement and police powers to apprehend or arrest abusive taxi drivers. Such statement coming from no less than the LTFRB chairman shows his gross ignorance of the law and his dereliction of duty."

The letter-writer then cited the law creating the LTFRB. Under Executive Order No. 202, specifically Section 5, Paragraph K, the LTFRB is empowered and mandated to implement and enforce rules and regulations on land transportation.

The letter-writer must be connected with the MMDA or PNP. For he said: "To pass on the responsibility to the MMDA and PNP is a cowardly act, if not a violation of the law. It is totally unfair to point the finger on the MMDA and PNP, considering that it was the LTFRB that issued the franchise and authorized the unit to operate in the streets."

And to cap off his outrage, the letter-writer said: "No wonder there is anarchy in the streets. The chairman of the agency entrusted by law to regulate public utility vehicles has derelicted on his duty to implement and enforce the law. For as long as Chairman Lantin washes his hands on his duty, this problem will continue to exist."

The final word from the letter-writer is his expression of concern that Lantin has probably overstayed at the LTFRB. "Perhaps, what is needed is a change of leadership in the LTFRB. Tama na. Palitan na!," the writer said. Which is the same message that come from the other person who reacted to Lantin's letter to the editor.

Art A.Borjal's e-mail address: <[email protected]>