"To me, there is no greater way to achieve clarity than to run alone, or share miles with a trusted friend."
-- Kristin Armstrong
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Ilonggos will have to take at face value the claim of Iloilo City Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon that he has been designated as President Duterte's "point man" in Iloilo City.
Now that Ganzon has disclosed he visited Davao City to meet the President on March 27 where he was reportedly invited to join the PDP-Laban, many Ilonggos will start to speculate that he might run for city mayor in 2019, even if Ganzon has nixed the idea.
Assuming that Ganzon will change his mind and run for city mayor under PDP-Laban; and assuming that Rep. Jerry Trenas will also run for the same post, Ganzon's biggest stumbling block would be the principle of the "equity of the incumbent"--assuming the party will honor that rule--asTrenas has been a PDP-Laban stalwart since the start of the Duterte administration.
It will be another story, however, if Trenas will pave the way for Vice Mayor Jose "Joe III" Espinosa as Liberal Party's official standard bearer for the mayoralty race.
-o0o-
In a political context, "point man" means a person at the forefront of an activity or endeavor.
In other words, a "point man" could mean "organizer" or "coordinator". A point man doesn't have any official portfolio other than his being affiliated with the administration party.
Since Ganzon is an elected official and has not relinquished his position, his designation as "point man" may be assumed as liaison in nature.
It could also mean being tapped as the President's eyes and ears in Iloilo. The most important for Ganzon is he now presumably has the trust and confidence of the President.
Ganzon's potential rivals should have no reason to worry yet since the alderman from Molo has not been officially sworn in as new PDP-Laban member.
Trenas and other PDP-Laban members may start to cross the bridge once Ganzon has become a full-fledged member of the ruling party.
-o0o-
WE will be watching the three Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) musketeers who cast aspersions on the reputation of dismissed Secretary Mike Sueno when they poisoned President Duterte's mind.
We hope they can exorcise the ghost that bedeviled them in their widely known fracas versus the grand old man of South Cotabato.
Sueno, a well-loved and much-admired former South Cotabato governor, has insisted he never pocketed a single centavo from the 76 firetrucks worth P20-million each in Austria since no public funds have been paid yet to the supplier, which will be done on a government to government basis.
It's not a joke to be fired because of allegations of corruption especially if your guilt has not been proven.
In his age, Sueno must be hurting so much. If he were Japanese, he would have committed suicide because of the degree of shame he received from the unforgiving President Duterte.
Showing posts with label #Department of Interior and Local Government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Department of Interior and Local Government. Show all posts
Friday, April 7, 2017
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Tears of joy or guilt?
"Nobody deserves your tears, but whoever deserves them will not make you cry."
--Gabriel Garcia Marquez
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- While facing the media after his boss had been kicked out by President Duterte as secretary of the Department Interior and Local Government (DILG), Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo shed tears.
"Inalisan kami ng bodyguards (our bodyguards had been recalled)," Hinlo, who speaks fluent Hiligaynon (dialect of the "Ilonggos") mourned, his voice shaking.
"Mahal namin si secretary (We love the secretary)," retorted Undersecretary Emilie Padilla.
"We only relayed to the President what is happening in the DILG," hissed Undersecretary John Castriciones.
The three, all lawyers, authored the "confidential" memorandum that spelled out dismissed Secretary Ismael "Mike" Sueno's alleged anomalies.
CONFRONT
When confronted by President Duterte during a cabinet meeting in Malacanang on April 3, 2017, Sueno denied the allegations contained in the hurtful letter.
Not satisfied with Sueno's explanation, the President sacked the country's 16th DILG chief.
Sueno, who had earlier asked the President to oust the three, lost in the most celebrated power play in the Duterte administration.
While Duterte was lowering the ax on Sueno, the three probably waited with bated breath and under suspended terror. "Kami ba o siya ang patatalsikin?"
The three musketeers, all members of the Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Council, prevailed.
Now, what were those tears for, Usec. Hinlo?
Joy that Goliath had been toppled?
Or guilt because some of the allegations in the "confidential" memo were half-truths if not downright hogwash?
-o0o-
TOLENTINO RECOGNIZED. The Iloilo City Council, through a resolution sponsored by Councilor Joshua Alim, has recognized the "extraordinaire" achievements of New York-based Jhett Dizon Tolentino, who hails from Zone 7, Brgy .Calumpang, Iloilo City during the Council's regular session on April 3, 2017.
Tolentino is the first Filipino to receive a Grammy Award in the field of music and art, and the second Filipino to bag a Tony Award 22 years after Lea Salonga of the famed "Miss Saigon." Alim, who hails from Sueno's province in South Cotabato, also recommended to the organizing committee of the Outstanding Ilonggo to consider the diminutive Tolentino as awardee.
-o0o-
DRUG LIST. According to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agenct (PDEA-6) Assistant Director Levi Ortiz, there are currently 20 government officials included in their latest drug list.
Where are they and who are they? One of them is reportedly a politician in Pototan, Iloilo who is connected with a big family of politicians in Ajuy and Estancia towns.
We are sure PDEA won't disclose their names. At least not yet.
Before forwarding their names to President Duterte, Ortiz must see to it that there should be no more repeat of what happened to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who was wrongly accused of being engaged in "narco-politics" and was repeatedly shamed by the President in the latter's various speeches.
--Gabriel Garcia Marquez
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- While facing the media after his boss had been kicked out by President Duterte as secretary of the Department Interior and Local Government (DILG), Undersecretary Jesus Hinlo shed tears.
"Inalisan kami ng bodyguards (our bodyguards had been recalled)," Hinlo, who speaks fluent Hiligaynon (dialect of the "Ilonggos") mourned, his voice shaking.
"Mahal namin si secretary (We love the secretary)," retorted Undersecretary Emilie Padilla.
"We only relayed to the President what is happening in the DILG," hissed Undersecretary John Castriciones.
The three, all lawyers, authored the "confidential" memorandum that spelled out dismissed Secretary Ismael "Mike" Sueno's alleged anomalies.
CONFRONT
When confronted by President Duterte during a cabinet meeting in Malacanang on April 3, 2017, Sueno denied the allegations contained in the hurtful letter.
Not satisfied with Sueno's explanation, the President sacked the country's 16th DILG chief.
Sueno, who had earlier asked the President to oust the three, lost in the most celebrated power play in the Duterte administration.
While Duterte was lowering the ax on Sueno, the three probably waited with bated breath and under suspended terror. "Kami ba o siya ang patatalsikin?"
The three musketeers, all members of the Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Council, prevailed.
Now, what were those tears for, Usec. Hinlo?
Joy that Goliath had been toppled?
Or guilt because some of the allegations in the "confidential" memo were half-truths if not downright hogwash?
-o0o-
TOLENTINO RECOGNIZED. The Iloilo City Council, through a resolution sponsored by Councilor Joshua Alim, has recognized the "extraordinaire" achievements of New York-based Jhett Dizon Tolentino, who hails from Zone 7, Brgy .Calumpang, Iloilo City during the Council's regular session on April 3, 2017.
Tolentino is the first Filipino to receive a Grammy Award in the field of music and art, and the second Filipino to bag a Tony Award 22 years after Lea Salonga of the famed "Miss Saigon." Alim, who hails from Sueno's province in South Cotabato, also recommended to the organizing committee of the Outstanding Ilonggo to consider the diminutive Tolentino as awardee.
-o0o-
DRUG LIST. According to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agenct (PDEA-6) Assistant Director Levi Ortiz, there are currently 20 government officials included in their latest drug list.
Where are they and who are they? One of them is reportedly a politician in Pototan, Iloilo who is connected with a big family of politicians in Ajuy and Estancia towns.
We are sure PDEA won't disclose their names. At least not yet.
Before forwarding their names to President Duterte, Ortiz must see to it that there should be no more repeat of what happened to Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who was wrongly accused of being engaged in "narco-politics" and was repeatedly shamed by the President in the latter's various speeches.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
If only he isn't 'promdi'
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."
--Christopher Hitchens
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If he were not a "promdi" (from the province), Ismael "Mike" Sueno would have survived the power struggle in the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Because he didn't have the stature of Alfredo Lim, Mar Roxas, and Gibo Teodoro, Sueno, a former governor of South Cotabato, had to go.
It's the president's prerogative to sack any cabinet official for "loss of trust and confidence."
We can't blame President Duterte. No ifs. No buts.
Even without any solid evidence of alleged corruption, cabinet officials can be terminated anytime.
They don't have a security of tenure. They all serve only at the pleasure of the president.
There should be no holy cows in cabinet jobs.
A mere "whiff of corruption" means, you have to go, the President has emphasized several times.
We aren't privy to the spat between Sueno and the three undersecretaries--John Castriciones for operations, Jesus Hinlo for public safety and Emilie Padilla for legislative liaison and special concerns.
But we are aware that DILG has been notoriously labelled as among the "shark-infested" government offices.
CONCERNS
Aside from dealing with the concerns of mayors, governors and the Philippine National Police nationwide, the DILG boss has to tackle complicated and in-house issues right within his own territory.
Which explains why Sueno had a turbulent relationship with his three subalterns, nominated to their positions by somebody else.
Because they usually do the field works and have direct access and meetings with local officials and police, many DILG undersecretaries compete with their boss in terms of accomplishments and attention from the President.
Some of them also have their own agenda and interests; they can be emboldened to display recalcitrance and engage the secretary in a power play.
In numbers game, they can out-muscle the secretary especially if they believe the latter doesn't have the savvy, depth, charisma and fire of Lim, Roxas, and Teodoro (who must've smelled the same disaster that awaited him the reason why he didn't accept the portfolio when it was first offered to him by the President last year).
CHARGES
We find the charges contained in a "confidential" letter leveled against Sueno that caused his early departure from the Duterte administration to be shallow, to say the least (these are all allegations and could be true or false):
--“There is a new hotel in Marbel, South Cotabato which is suspiciously owned by Sec. Sueno, although he alleges that this property belongs to his brother. His farm in South Cotabato which used to have only one nipa hut prior to his being a secretary, now has several expensive structures being built."
Sueno said the property really belongs to his brother.
--Sueno purchased several trucks for his personal rice business and his grandson police official, identified only as “Senior Supt. Sintin” and “who has a position during the time of President Noynoy,” is known to be the DILG chief’s collector in many illegal gambling activities.
--“Sueno has pursued the payment of the Rossenbauer firetrucks despite the fact there is a pending case in the Supreme Court. Worse, he with his family, personally went to Austria and made side trips to other countries to pursue a second delivery of 76 firetrucks which caused more or less P20 million compared to a firetruck which can be purchased for more or less P7 million only,” the letter read.
Sueno clarified the issue on firetrucks was a government-to-government transaction, which was made during the previous administration. “It was a 76 percent grant and 24 percent loan. It’s an ODA (overseas development assistance),” he said.
--Sueno tried to influence the Task Force Agila, the investigating team of the narco-mayors in the listing of the President, to clear a mayor from Misamis Occidental.
Sueno said TF Agila has its own set of officials and he could have not interfered in its operations.
TRIP
--Sueno authorized a mayor to join the Washington trip regarding illegal drugs when in fact the local official was included in the President’s list of known narco-politicians under investigation by Task Force Agila of the DILG.
“The delegation to Washington DC was prepared by (the) Local Government Academy and I was not even part of the trip,” Sueno said.
--“...he is inefficient and incapable of the position he occupies. We hope and pray that if there is a new secretary to be appointed, then he would cause the investigation of the afore stated incidents."
--Sueno is using all his powers as secretary of the DILG to force the three undersecretaries to resign because of his 'mistaken belief' that they were the ones behind his ouster."
--Sueno initiated actions to stop the three undersecretaries in the performance of their limited functions as well as investigations to pin them down on trumped-up charges. This was meant to destroy their credibility and to preempt his looming ouster.
--The three officials tried to understand Sueno but as months passed, they saw that the DILG secretary had become more interested in pursuing his own interests as manifested by his policies and activities.
LOYALTY
--Sueno spelled out his policy to the undersecretaries: “Your loyalty should be to me (Sueno) and not to the President.”
--Sueno also maintained and strengthened the powers of Panadero and assistant secretary Esther Aldana, head executive assistant to Jo Leysa, all well-known supporters and loyalists of former DILG chief Manuel Roxas II, by giving them powers to control all the projects and programs of the department with huge funding.
Sueno said Panadero is a career officer and has been in the DILG for over two decades now.
--Sueno revised the delegation of authority so much so all signing authorities are controlled by the three “yellow protégés” of Roxas. The head executive assistant, who is not even a presidential appointee, has more powers than any of the three MRRD undersecretaries.
--Sueno refused to investigate past transactions of Roxas that were allegedly tainted with corruption.
--Sueno’s wife was likewise the one in charge of many contracts and other transactions.
Sueno denied all the accusations against him in the letter and had issued clarifications.
--Christopher Hitchens
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If he were not a "promdi" (from the province), Ismael "Mike" Sueno would have survived the power struggle in the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Because he didn't have the stature of Alfredo Lim, Mar Roxas, and Gibo Teodoro, Sueno, a former governor of South Cotabato, had to go.
It's the president's prerogative to sack any cabinet official for "loss of trust and confidence."
We can't blame President Duterte. No ifs. No buts.
Even without any solid evidence of alleged corruption, cabinet officials can be terminated anytime.
They don't have a security of tenure. They all serve only at the pleasure of the president.
There should be no holy cows in cabinet jobs.
A mere "whiff of corruption" means, you have to go, the President has emphasized several times.
We aren't privy to the spat between Sueno and the three undersecretaries--John Castriciones for operations, Jesus Hinlo for public safety and Emilie Padilla for legislative liaison and special concerns.
But we are aware that DILG has been notoriously labelled as among the "shark-infested" government offices.
CONCERNS
Aside from dealing with the concerns of mayors, governors and the Philippine National Police nationwide, the DILG boss has to tackle complicated and in-house issues right within his own territory.
Which explains why Sueno had a turbulent relationship with his three subalterns, nominated to their positions by somebody else.
Because they usually do the field works and have direct access and meetings with local officials and police, many DILG undersecretaries compete with their boss in terms of accomplishments and attention from the President.
Some of them also have their own agenda and interests; they can be emboldened to display recalcitrance and engage the secretary in a power play.
In numbers game, they can out-muscle the secretary especially if they believe the latter doesn't have the savvy, depth, charisma and fire of Lim, Roxas, and Teodoro (who must've smelled the same disaster that awaited him the reason why he didn't accept the portfolio when it was first offered to him by the President last year).
CHARGES
We find the charges contained in a "confidential" letter leveled against Sueno that caused his early departure from the Duterte administration to be shallow, to say the least (these are all allegations and could be true or false):
--“There is a new hotel in Marbel, South Cotabato which is suspiciously owned by Sec. Sueno, although he alleges that this property belongs to his brother. His farm in South Cotabato which used to have only one nipa hut prior to his being a secretary, now has several expensive structures being built."
Sueno said the property really belongs to his brother.
--Sueno purchased several trucks for his personal rice business and his grandson police official, identified only as “Senior Supt. Sintin” and “who has a position during the time of President Noynoy,” is known to be the DILG chief’s collector in many illegal gambling activities.
--“Sueno has pursued the payment of the Rossenbauer firetrucks despite the fact there is a pending case in the Supreme Court. Worse, he with his family, personally went to Austria and made side trips to other countries to pursue a second delivery of 76 firetrucks which caused more or less P20 million compared to a firetruck which can be purchased for more or less P7 million only,” the letter read.
Sueno clarified the issue on firetrucks was a government-to-government transaction, which was made during the previous administration. “It was a 76 percent grant and 24 percent loan. It’s an ODA (overseas development assistance),” he said.
--Sueno tried to influence the Task Force Agila, the investigating team of the narco-mayors in the listing of the President, to clear a mayor from Misamis Occidental.
Sueno said TF Agila has its own set of officials and he could have not interfered in its operations.
TRIP
--Sueno authorized a mayor to join the Washington trip regarding illegal drugs when in fact the local official was included in the President’s list of known narco-politicians under investigation by Task Force Agila of the DILG.
“The delegation to Washington DC was prepared by (the) Local Government Academy and I was not even part of the trip,” Sueno said.
--“...he is inefficient and incapable of the position he occupies. We hope and pray that if there is a new secretary to be appointed, then he would cause the investigation of the afore stated incidents."
--Sueno is using all his powers as secretary of the DILG to force the three undersecretaries to resign because of his 'mistaken belief' that they were the ones behind his ouster."
--Sueno initiated actions to stop the three undersecretaries in the performance of their limited functions as well as investigations to pin them down on trumped-up charges. This was meant to destroy their credibility and to preempt his looming ouster.
--The three officials tried to understand Sueno but as months passed, they saw that the DILG secretary had become more interested in pursuing his own interests as manifested by his policies and activities.
LOYALTY
--Sueno spelled out his policy to the undersecretaries: “Your loyalty should be to me (Sueno) and not to the President.”
--Sueno also maintained and strengthened the powers of Panadero and assistant secretary Esther Aldana, head executive assistant to Jo Leysa, all well-known supporters and loyalists of former DILG chief Manuel Roxas II, by giving them powers to control all the projects and programs of the department with huge funding.
Sueno said Panadero is a career officer and has been in the DILG for over two decades now.
--Sueno revised the delegation of authority so much so all signing authorities are controlled by the three “yellow protégés” of Roxas. The head executive assistant, who is not even a presidential appointee, has more powers than any of the three MRRD undersecretaries.
--Sueno refused to investigate past transactions of Roxas that were allegedly tainted with corruption.
--Sueno’s wife was likewise the one in charge of many contracts and other transactions.
Sueno denied all the accusations against him in the letter and had issued clarifications.
Monday, April 3, 2017
DILG Sec. Mike Sueno fired
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte fired Interior Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno, the former South Cotabato governor who helped convince him to run for president, over corruption allegations following a Cabinet meeting Monday night.
News of the firing leaked early Tuesday and was later confirmed by Malacañang and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
In a statement, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella cited loss of trust and confidence as the reason for Sueno’s removal as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The President had earlier asked a few questions of Mr. Sueno but the summary dismissal served as a warning that Mr. Duterte would not countenance any questionable or legally untenable decisions by any member of the Cabinet,” Abella said.
“The Secretary had, in fact, been instrumental in convincing the President to run for election, but this did not deter the President from pursuing his drive for a trustworthy government by addressing issues like corruption,” he added.
Sueno’s departure followed the sacking in March of Peter Tiu Laviña, the former Duterte campaign spokesman, as head of the National Irrigation Administration also over corruption allegations.
Aguirre confirmed Sueno’s firing in an interview over radio station dzMM, saying the dismissal of the DILG chief was made in the Cabinet meeting Monday night.
On Monday, Sueno denied the allegations of corruption said to have been made by his three undersecretaries, John Castriciones, Jesus Hinlo and Emily Padilla, in a confidential memorandum to the President.
Sueno admitted he had received a request to protect gambling syndicates in exchange for payoffs, but said he turned it down.
“There is a group that insisted that I take the payoffs from illegal gambling. They got in touch with the gambling lords about the payola [and]I rejected their offer,” he said in a statement.
Sueno also admitted he has a grandson who holds a “high position” at the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame, but said he had no influence over the police officer.
He also denied owning a hotel in Marbel, South Cotabato, saying it belongs to his brother.
“My brother is probably 20 times richer than me. I do not have the financial capacity to build such a big structure,” Sueno said. JEFF ANTIPORDA/The Manila Times
News of the firing leaked early Tuesday and was later confirmed by Malacañang and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.
In a statement, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella cited loss of trust and confidence as the reason for Sueno’s removal as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The President had earlier asked a few questions of Mr. Sueno but the summary dismissal served as a warning that Mr. Duterte would not countenance any questionable or legally untenable decisions by any member of the Cabinet,” Abella said.
“The Secretary had, in fact, been instrumental in convincing the President to run for election, but this did not deter the President from pursuing his drive for a trustworthy government by addressing issues like corruption,” he added.
Sueno’s departure followed the sacking in March of Peter Tiu Laviña, the former Duterte campaign spokesman, as head of the National Irrigation Administration also over corruption allegations.
Aguirre confirmed Sueno’s firing in an interview over radio station dzMM, saying the dismissal of the DILG chief was made in the Cabinet meeting Monday night.
On Monday, Sueno denied the allegations of corruption said to have been made by his three undersecretaries, John Castriciones, Jesus Hinlo and Emily Padilla, in a confidential memorandum to the President.
Sueno admitted he had received a request to protect gambling syndicates in exchange for payoffs, but said he turned it down.
“There is a group that insisted that I take the payoffs from illegal gambling. They got in touch with the gambling lords about the payola [and]I rejected their offer,” he said in a statement.
Sueno also admitted he has a grandson who holds a “high position” at the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame, but said he had no influence over the police officer.
He also denied owning a hotel in Marbel, South Cotabato, saying it belongs to his brother.
“My brother is probably 20 times richer than me. I do not have the financial capacity to build such a big structure,” Sueno said. JEFF ANTIPORDA/The Manila Times
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Duterte might clear some but not all Iloilo 'narco-mayors'
"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something."
-- Plato
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Some Filipino-Americans here said Pinoy illegal immigrants in the United States should stop worrying "because the Trump administration will never touch them with a ten-foot pole unless they commit a crime and violate federal laws."
There are so many important things to be prioritized in the White House, according to them.
President Trump's executive order banning entry of Muslims from seven countries for 90 days was part of his campaign promise that he needed to implement or his supporters would rib him, they added.
The controversial executive order has been temporarily suspended after being torpedoed by a state judge.
"Only those with criminal records will be the first to go," Merlinda, wife of a federal official, told me in a birthday party in Manhattan recently.
"Filipinos are not criminals. They have contributed a lot in the labor and economy of the United State. They are not targets of the threat of mass deportation."
-o0o-
Misinformation, not miscommunication, will be the king-sized obstacle of the four Iloilo "narco-mayors" in their quest to clear themselves and convince President Rodrigo Duterte that they're not the illegal drug trade's Real McCoys.
Miscommunication can be remedied because of mass media's active involvement in the issue.
Misinformation will further exacerbate the mayors' woes because of false hopes and false alarm like the recent report that the mayors' names have already been removed from the "Dutertelist."
To "confirm" that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been tasked to exonerate the mayors is both miscommunication and misinformation.
President Duterte merely asked the DILG to investigate the allegations against the 160 local government executives on the "Dutertelist."
AUTHORIZE
He never authorized the DILG to decide who should be declared innocent and who should remain in the shame list.
The accusation that the 160 local government executives were involved in illegal drug trade came from the president's mouth based on tips provided by his intelligence network and field investigators.
The president regularly airs his diatribes against wrongdoers in police and government--including his cussing- through the media.
If President Duterte will decide to clear anyone, he will even apologize if necessary.
The grapevine said the president might remove the names of some but not all.
-- Plato
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- Some Filipino-Americans here said Pinoy illegal immigrants in the United States should stop worrying "because the Trump administration will never touch them with a ten-foot pole unless they commit a crime and violate federal laws."
There are so many important things to be prioritized in the White House, according to them.
President Trump's executive order banning entry of Muslims from seven countries for 90 days was part of his campaign promise that he needed to implement or his supporters would rib him, they added.
The controversial executive order has been temporarily suspended after being torpedoed by a state judge.
"Only those with criminal records will be the first to go," Merlinda, wife of a federal official, told me in a birthday party in Manhattan recently.
"Filipinos are not criminals. They have contributed a lot in the labor and economy of the United State. They are not targets of the threat of mass deportation."
-o0o-
Misinformation, not miscommunication, will be the king-sized obstacle of the four Iloilo "narco-mayors" in their quest to clear themselves and convince President Rodrigo Duterte that they're not the illegal drug trade's Real McCoys.
Miscommunication can be remedied because of mass media's active involvement in the issue.
Misinformation will further exacerbate the mayors' woes because of false hopes and false alarm like the recent report that the mayors' names have already been removed from the "Dutertelist."
To "confirm" that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been tasked to exonerate the mayors is both miscommunication and misinformation.
President Duterte merely asked the DILG to investigate the allegations against the 160 local government executives on the "Dutertelist."
AUTHORIZE
He never authorized the DILG to decide who should be declared innocent and who should remain in the shame list.
The accusation that the 160 local government executives were involved in illegal drug trade came from the president's mouth based on tips provided by his intelligence network and field investigators.
The president regularly airs his diatribes against wrongdoers in police and government--including his cussing- through the media.
If President Duterte will decide to clear anyone, he will even apologize if necessary.
The grapevine said the president might remove the names of some but not all.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Retired Iloilo top cop once caught 'sleeping on the job'
"Let me be clear about this. I don't have a drug problem. I have a police problem." -- Keith Richards
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If ever the four Iloilo "narco-mayors" will be cleared, it should be President Rodrigo Duterte who will announce it because he was the one who made the accusation in August 2016.
People, particularly the Ilonggos, will only believe and listen to what the president will say next.
Not to any of his subalterns. Not to any agency under the Office of the President.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will have no credibility "clearing" the embattled mayors unless explicitly ordered by the president.
The DILG was supposed to protect the four mayors and other local chief executives implicated in illegal drug trade before their names landed on the "Dutertelist" in presumption that they could only be victims of political harassment and vendetta.
The DILG also can't declare with absolute certainty that the names of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones, Calinog Mayor Alex Centena, and Carles Mayor Sigfriedo Betita have been removed from the "Dutertelist" if the president hasn't made a latest pronouncement regarding the hullabaloo.
Even if the DILG will "clear" the four mayors but President Duterte didn't confirm it, people will remain suspicious and pessimistic.
-o0o-
THIS retired police superintendent, formerly assigned in the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) or Camp Delgado in Port San Pedro, Iloilo City, is lucky he is no longer in service when President Duterte assumed power.
The retired police official would have joined the more than 200 rogue Metro Manila cops recently insulted and ordered by President Duterte to be assigned in Basilan.
President Duterte would have been embarrassed by the offense made by the now retired police official albeit he can't dismiss him from police service.
Not all of the 200 rogue cops were implicated in crimes that would warrant their outright dismissal.
CASES
Either they were facing administrative cases for being AWOL (absent without official leave), or were caught moonlighting or doing "extra jobs" not related to their mandate as law enforcers.
This retired police official, who is now a top adviser of a prominent Iloilo City executive, was once spotted in a downtown gay bar when a city hall task force on anti-drugs, pornography and prostitution conducted a surprise raid.
He was not there to moonlight as bouncer. The retired police official, who was then active in police service, was literally snoring near the dance floor when members of the task force barged in.
By Alex P. Vidal
NEW YORK CITY -- If ever the four Iloilo "narco-mayors" will be cleared, it should be President Rodrigo Duterte who will announce it because he was the one who made the accusation in August 2016.
People, particularly the Ilonggos, will only believe and listen to what the president will say next.
Not to any of his subalterns. Not to any agency under the Office of the President.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will have no credibility "clearing" the embattled mayors unless explicitly ordered by the president.
The DILG was supposed to protect the four mayors and other local chief executives implicated in illegal drug trade before their names landed on the "Dutertelist" in presumption that they could only be victims of political harassment and vendetta.
The DILG also can't declare with absolute certainty that the names of Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones, Calinog Mayor Alex Centena, and Carles Mayor Sigfriedo Betita have been removed from the "Dutertelist" if the president hasn't made a latest pronouncement regarding the hullabaloo.
Even if the DILG will "clear" the four mayors but President Duterte didn't confirm it, people will remain suspicious and pessimistic.
-o0o-
THIS retired police superintendent, formerly assigned in the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) or Camp Delgado in Port San Pedro, Iloilo City, is lucky he is no longer in service when President Duterte assumed power.
The retired police official would have joined the more than 200 rogue Metro Manila cops recently insulted and ordered by President Duterte to be assigned in Basilan.
President Duterte would have been embarrassed by the offense made by the now retired police official albeit he can't dismiss him from police service.
Not all of the 200 rogue cops were implicated in crimes that would warrant their outright dismissal.
CASES
Either they were facing administrative cases for being AWOL (absent without official leave), or were caught moonlighting or doing "extra jobs" not related to their mandate as law enforcers.
This retired police official, who is now a top adviser of a prominent Iloilo City executive, was once spotted in a downtown gay bar when a city hall task force on anti-drugs, pornography and prostitution conducted a surprise raid.
He was not there to moonlight as bouncer. The retired police official, who was then active in police service, was literally snoring near the dance floor when members of the task force barged in.
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