— David R. Brower
By Alex P. Vidal
IF I were a cop (not necessarily holding a position of colonel or general) and being asked to tender my “courtesy resignation” by Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. for no apparent reason, I wouldn’t resign—especially if was never implicated in any wrongdoing, or if I have been proven to be dedicated to my job as law enforcer.
We understand that only high-ranking cops have been challenged to resign by Abalos in an effort to weed out those that have ties to criminal syndicates.
And according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., nearly 600 police generals and colonels in the country have so far tendered their courtesy resignations.
We all know that not all courtesy resignations would be accepted. Those who have heeded Abalos’ call may have obliged only as a “courtesy” to him as DILG boss, although deep inside they really didn’t intend to quit.
In these hard times, nobody wants to lose his job—especially if he occupies a high position in any office, including the PNP.
Those who ignored Abalos didn’t mean they felt alluded to as suspected rogues, but they violated no law if they didn’t respond.
They committed no crime for clinging to their positions and pretending they didn’t realize the DILG secretary was serious in his call for the resignation rampage.
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In fact, we view Abalos’ sardonic call to be more as a pressure than a courtesy.
It’s a case of, “I don’t want to do this but I am under pressure, thus I am obligated.”
On the other hand, Abalos could be liable for illegal termination under the labor laws if he randomly and arbitrarily sacked legally and legitimately employed cops on mere suspicion of having links to lawless elements, thus he merely “called” or “challenged” them to tender a “courtesy resignation.”
And there’s a caveat if all the generals and colonels will quit or be forced to quit.
Who will feed their families? Some of then have queridas and queridos and extended families who heavily rely on them financially. Never mind their vices.
If they were considered as shames and scandals after being suspected to be in cahoots with criminals when they were still employed in the PNP, what is the assurance they would not “work” full time in the underworld after they become unemployed?
Instead of attempting to slice the horns of the ruffians in the PNP organization, the DILG, or the government, for that matter, might only succeed in breeding more unscrupulous characters in society if the issue on “courtesy resignation” is given major emphasis in the quest for cleansing and reform.
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TEXAS-based Ilonggo photojournalist Rufino “Pinoy” Legarda Gonzales recently made the following observations:
I just left Iloilo last month and grabi gid ka worse ang traffic cause by Drilon's 4 flyovers.
For 3 years I saw how they worked on that flawed flyover. And from the very beginning I saw that they did it the wrong way.
There are many huge and more complicated flyovers here in Houston and I saw how they made it right.
The Ungka and Aganan, Pavia flyovers are the ugliest flyovers in the world in workmanship. Ang Buhang, Jaro and Mandurrio, Pavia flyovers ok lang.
That flyover is a goner. It should be demolished and condemn for the safety of the riding public. The wonder of it all was that how in the construction world could IBC qualify for a P680 million project when their Triple A license could only qualify them for a project 500 million and below? The answer is Drilon
That project only qualify's Quadruple A Licensed Contractors. And nobody in Panay Island is qualified.
It should have been given to a contractor with past experiences in building a flyover.
That flyover if you can see had a very very crude appearance. Ugly work. Daw construction sa Barangay.
(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)
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