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Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Editorial: PDEA initiative
WE HAVE to admit we are somewhat confused over Regional Director Rene Orbe's choice of words regarding allegations that he extended or received favors from local officials and top lawyers concerning drug cases.
In interviews with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Orbe maintained these aren't favors per se but "pakiusap na kaibigan" (requests made by friends) or words to that effect which is in contrast to debt of gratitude or "utang na loob" in Pilipino (uh huh).
Lexicon lessons aside the regional PDEA 10 director was right in asking that the family of suspected drug pusher Eric Jabagat file a complaint against PO2 Isah Taurac whom they accused of extorting money from them.
Apparently, Orbe has no problems at least on the surface about plans by the central PDEA office to investigate the Taurac case but the lingering question remains: why did he use his own money to give back to the regional National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 10 office when he could have simply returned the alleged extorted money to them?
Were it not for his cell phone calls to this paper and other media outlets Orbe would have been accused of trying to evade the issue outright. Whether there is any truth to his claims that some powerful enemies are out to ruin him is still subject to verification.
What does matter is that somehow the investigation should be conducted to penalize the persons responsible--if there are still others who ought to be included--and cleanse the ranks of the PDEA 10 agents.
The problem is that the stain of the Taurac case and the other incident concerning the kidnap of one Misamis Oriental lawmaker by some PDEA-10 agents won't come off anytime soon until the PDEA central office finishes a complete, honest-to-goodness inquiry. No complaint, no inquiry they seem to say.
However it isn't unreasonable for the PDEA central office to initiate the inquiry itself if only to show to the public that it is serious in cleansing its ranks of any scalawags in uniform.
In this regard the City Council or the City Government can course its complaint before the PDEA central office or for more clout, through Interior and Local Governments Secretary Angelo Reyes so as to ensure a speedy and fair resolution to the case.
That way we in the local media won't have to waste precious time following up on cases like those of Jabagat and others who may likely be victimized by these unscrupulous agents.
(September 6, 2005 issue)
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