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Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Editorial: The ‘hot’ Toyota MRS
It's interesting to listen to these players in the current exchange of press statements over the seizure of a Toyota MRS sedan 2004 from a car dealer last Friday:
* Cebu Customs Collector Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang says the police raid and the issuance of a search warrant by RTC Judge Ireneo T. Gako intruded into exclusive customs functions;
* The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) says the raid was based on a valid search warrant while Judge Gako says it did not cover violation of tariff and customs law but the car's registration at the Land Transportation Office;
* Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña weighs in with his accusation, based on "feedback" and "derogatory reports" about CIDG 7 Chief Oscar Catalan, that CIDG raiders "seemed" to have tried to extort money.
What public officials say or do, however, may not be what actually prompts the word or deed. Thus admitted or implied motive may not be the real motive.
Mangaoang may not be as concerned about customs turf as being afraid of the charge of failing to stop the entry of a smuggled vehicle.
The police may not be as zealous about law enforcement as being tempted to make some money, which is what the mayor suspects.
Mayor Osmeña's declared intention to defend businessmen against police harassment might just be cover-up for a weakness to help friends in business who are his friends in politics.
As to the judge, his interest may go beyond trying to make a legal distinction that provides a loophole (whose purpose one can only speculate about, what with judges being more fierce in protecting integrity than customs collectors in defending territory).
The players in the ongoing debate may not be candid about motives but each performs a part in checking and balancing.
Would the apparent smuggling have been exposed had the police not "meddled" by raiding the dealer and the judge by issuing the search warrant?
Had the customs chief not complained about usurpation of function, would anyone have thought there could be something selfish in the intervention?
Of course, the mayor articulated what could have been limited to coffeeshop talk or office gossip. Could anyone else more sensitive to other people reputation malign the CIDG merely on the basis of "feedback" and "derogatory reports"?
Nuts and bolts in democracy's check and balance. The question now is whether they will ever get people to the truth.
(August 10, 2005 issue)
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