Arrogance

From Ernie Maceda:

It is reassuring that National Capital Region Police Office Police Director Vidal Querol spontaneously conceded the violent dispersal in Mendiola with policemen beating up even women was unjustified.

Commission on Human Rights Chairman Purificacion Quisumbing viewing the TV tapes concluded the police used unreasonable force.

But lo and behold, the usually soft-spoken Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita comes forward to justify the violent dispersal with a curt “policemen are like dogs, if you kick 'em, they bite” with an unusual air of arrogance.

But can Ermita justify the cops removing their nameplate or being in civilian clothes? That's premeditation.

It was equally arrogant for Press Secretary Toting Bunye to refuse to answer questions asked by Rep. Roilo Golez at a budget hearing, followed by a walkout from the hearing room.

Following the examples of arrogance set by their leadership, Philippine Army commander Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and 2nd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Efren Orbon issued arrest and shoot to kill orders against any person recruiting Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel to join so-called destabilization efforts. This policy has now been confirmed by the AFP top leadership through its spokesman Gen. Angel Honrado.

But can you blame these three generals when they are just implementing the policy of arrogance set by the scandalous and open buying of the anti-impeachment complaint vote, the inhuman calibrated preemptive response (CPR) resulting in violent dispersals, Executive Order (EO) 464 and the bashing of the Senate, not to mention the reckless and criminal spending of public funds?

Well, it is clear now who are the bullies. They have even graduated to acts of terrorism against the Senate, Congress and all rallyists.

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What now? In the light of the defense of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita of “biting dog” policeman, will the Department of Interior and Local Government and National Police Commission push through with the prosecution of SPO2 Napoleon de Ramos and PO1 Edyly Dato who were caught on TV video footage manhandling rallyists on Recto Avenue, Manila?

De Ramos was the policeman in a civilian black T-shirt who pushed and hit a 60-year-old woman. We can understand how a new Police Officer 1 (PO1) may have lost his cool but for a SPO2, a detective at that, to manhandle an elderly woman, that takes the cake. It shows once again how much the quality of our policeman has deteriorated.

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Another flight. Former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante, manager of the fertilizer fund distribution during the May 2004 campaign, has flown the coop and was reported to be hiding in Toronto, Canada. Obviously, he took flight, like Garcillano, to avoid incriminating himself and GMA in a Senate investigation called by administration Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. as chairman of the committee on agriculture.

Surprisingly, the Commission on Audit (CoA) confirmed that funds totaling P728 million were released through favored congressmen, governors and mayors. But CoA must share part of the blame again. It has not audited the actual use of the funds.

Not surprisingly, farmers organizations testified that none of them or their members received any money.

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Prima facie. There is a good case here for malversation of public funds and falsification of documents. The Ombudsman should actively investigate this scandal now.

Sen. Magsaysay must issue subpoenas to private citizens Cito Lorenzo and Emilia Boncodin as well as the recipient- politicians. It is believed Cito was sacked as Agriculture secretary after the elections because he refused to approve the misuse of fertilizer funds.

Considering the declining agricultural output and the increasing price of rice, pocketing of fertilizer funds is a crime not only against farmers but also against poor consumers.