Calling Batman

If we were living in “Gotham City”, I think the Mayor would already be sending out the signal to Batman for help.

I don’t wish to be an alarmist, but even Malacañang would have some difficulty denying that our peace and order situation is now a matter of concern.

For several months, we have had repeated incidents of high profile carnapping with homicide, we have had several incidents of robbery with homicide and frustrated homicide, we have had a continuing series of kidnappings in Basilan and Zamboanga.

Last week in particular can be called the height of criminality in the country when two US citizens, a mother and son were kidnapped in Zamboanga, two police officers were shot dead by criminal elements, The Bank of the Philippine Islands in Quezon City was robbed by criminals who pinned down policemen by firing high powered automatic rifles at them.

These of course were merely the highlights of a crime wave involving carnapping in the carnap capital of the Philippines, Quezon City, the daily incidents of robberies at knifepoint or gunpoint etc.

To add insult to injury, on the week of the major crime wave, we saw photos of high-ranking police officers as guest of honors at the annual gun show checking out American and European automatic pistols.

Under normal circumstance I will always opt to be supportive of the officials of the Philippine National Police. But our present situation, particularly in Quezon City, Batangas and Zamboanga are not normal. We have had a serious crime wave but the only thing the PNP has been talking about is their cheap second hand entry-level helicopters and their determination to go after the guilty.

Malacañang may not agree with my observations but it would still be a good idea to remember that during the Cory administration and the Erap administration, part of the destabilization process was to conduct criminal fund raising activities such as bank robberies and kidnappings.

The proceeds from such activities were in turn used to bankroll bombings and coups d ‘etat, something that should always be of concern for the PNoy administration.

In addition to this, those in Malacañang should learn from the Luneta hostage massacre and be more proactive concerning the over-all peace and order in the country.

President Aquino and his crew have certainly moved forward in showing the world that his government is serious about fighting corruption and going after those who profited from corruption in the past administration, but what about their determination to fight criminality and preserve peace and order?

For this reason, Batman needs to come out of the bat cave.

In the last year we have seen “Noynoy” Aquino as President, now the country needs to witness Benigno Aquino III as the COMMANDER IN CHIEF. We need for the Commander to take charge of the PNP and the AFP in order to wage war against criminality not just corruption.

Last week’s news reports claimed that the Intelligence Officer who was gunned down in Batangas was the victim of a contract killing put out by drug lords. It is bad enough that almost every barangay in the country has a drug problem or a drug presence.

It is horrible as it is, that almost every incident of rape with murder is drug induced. Now we have drug lords putting out a hit on cops! Do we want to be a “Little Mexico”?

I have seen the President at work and I know that it is no problem for him to tough it out on this matter of serious concerns. While I admire his support for cabinet members under fire, the President has to have a totally different rule for the PNP and the AFP.

Given that lives and property are at stake and constant threat, it is time for a serious and major overhaul of the Philippine National Police. Left overs should be taken out, not recycled.

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Speaking of recycling, the last time I wrote about recycling, I got a nice note from DENR Secretary Ramon Paje thanking me for promoting the concept in word and in deed.

But when I wrote about the highly questionable and unpopular “midnight executive order” that took away the Yulo King Ranch from the management of the Bureau of Animal Industry and parceled out 32,000 hectares to favored entities, Secretary Paje was either left in the dark or opted for “the Sound of Silence”.

This weekend, I read a small article that was obviously based on a “press release” where Secretary Paje was quoted as supporting a Senate bill that would give incentive cash vouchers so people can dump their old vehicles for a new one.

That to me was “unnecessary PR” that does more bad than good.

In case Secretary Paje is unaware, a former DENR Secretary had initiated a program where surplus or used diesel engines of trucks and Jeepneys could be replaced with new ones through a subsidized loan from a government bank through the DENR.

In other words, the DENR was way ahead of the Santiago bill, but the DENR failed to promote and capitalize on something they have ownership of.

While Secretary Paje may feel compelled to ride on the hem of Senator Santiago as environment secretary, There are far more important concerns and issues that he should be addressing or responding to.

In the mean time it would be of great interest to many what the good secretary intends to do about the subdivision of the Yulo King Ranch and the midnight EO that disenfranchised the BAI of the prime cattle breeding and quarantine station of the Philippines?

Now “that” would be worthwhile reading and certainly not just “PR”.

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