Monday, October 06, 2008 Editorial: The prodigal Superintendent Montalba
SOLDIERS and law enforcers who defy unlawful orders-murdering and torturing activists during the Marcos regime, for example-do so because what is required of them are inherently against their values and principles.
Their conscience always above any force of blinding loyalty, they choose to disobey the authority for the sake of justice even if the choice of the proper response is an enormously difficult one.
The case of Supt. Antonio Montalba is a study in contrast. Here is a senior level police officer clawing tooth and nail for an assignment of his choice at the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo).
He argues that his appointment to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office was illegal because, chiefly, he has to attend to the various cases pending against him.
It's for the court to decide the merits of the TRO he filed late last week, but we find the argument silly, laughable, and excruciatingly unimaginative.
Sure, Montalba and his lawyers can always unearth some yellowing pages of PNP or Napolcom directive to substantiate their claim. But before that, can Montalba pray tell ask himself how far is Villanueva town from Cagayan de Oro that he would be deprived, as he says, by distance from attending his cases?
Secondly, must his superiors at the PNP regional office suffer from the misfortune of having a subordinate who has too many cases?
In defying his superiors, Montalba is apparently emboldened by his cheering squad at City Hall, whose captain is no less than Vice Mayor Vicente Emano.
He says he would accept a "floating" status just to remain at Cocpo, but the recklessness and the extraordinary vigor he has displayed to attain this goal betrays his intentions.
He knows that sooner or later, his patrons at City Hall would find ways to wiggle him at the top of the command-as has been the case for many years now.
But what makes Montalba so special that he himself and his political backers believe he has a royal claim over Maharlika's domains? Nothing, yet he, Emano, and the latter's paid hacks at one local radio station believe he alone is the Salvador del Mundo who can bring peace to the city.
This is hardly the case because during Montalba's intermittent stewardship at Cocpo for years, crimes continue to rise despite choreographed acts of showmanship.
Robbers rob still, cheats remain as they are, illegal gambling and coin-operated machines continue to operate and even thrived, criminals did not become overnight born-again Christians-nothing of significant importance has changed.
Clearly, the public does not benefit in any way from Montalba's defiance against his assignment outside the city. But if he succeeds, his political backers-who are known to be comfortable only with those that play footsies with them-are the sure winners.
