Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Lito Ruiz lashes back at ABC head
INTERIOR and Local Government Undersecretary Lito Ruiz yesterday hit back at the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC), describing their opposition to his organization of a barangay intelligence network (BIN) in Lapu-Lapu City as a sign of ignorance.
Ruiz said the structure of BIN is specified in a Department of Local and Interior Government (DILG) memorandum, and being a DILG official, he has the authority to organize units.
“Long before I became undersecretary and Leo Mercado became a barangay captain that memorandum circular already exist. So I suggest to Mercado to do his homework first before uttering words that are as ugly as his face,” he told Sun Star Cebu in a mobile phone interview.
Mercado said Ruiz was just preparing for the 2010 mayoralty bid of his wife, 6th district Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz. He alleged Ruiz was organizing the BIN to serve as a political base for his wife rather than to fight crime.
Ruiz said even the Philippine National Police can not serve as banner organization of BIN because it is the DILG that serves as the umbrella organization of all peace-keeping forces, including civilian volunteers.
Research
“He should do his research,” Ruiz said.
But Mercado insisted Ruiz was supposed to consult with barangay officials, as provided for by the DILG memorandum.
“Siya ang nagpataka (He’s the one who doesn’t make sense),” he said in a separate talk.
Firm
Mercado said all Lapu-Lapu barangay officials are firm on their stand not to recognize BIN units being organized Ruiz.
“Patrabahoa nang iyang intelligence network sa barangay kong gusto siya kay trabaho lang pod mi ug amoa (Let him work on his network, we’ll just work on our own),” he said.
Lapu-Lapu City Police Director Mariano Natuel suggested during one of the ABC meetings to merge the two BIN units but the ABC opposed the proposal, citing what they said was the political plan of Ruiz.
Screened
Natuel, however, sees no problems in having two BIN units in a barangay because intelligence reports coming from either of them will be screened and strictly evaluated.
Ruiz said he organized BIN units in almost all the 19 barangays in the mainland. He is expected to organize more in the 11 barangays in Olango Island.
The ABC, on the other hand, only has accredited BIN units in Barangays Mactan and Canjulao.
Ruiz, meanwhile, said political leaders in the city wanted him, not his wife, to run for mayor.
“The interest of my wife is in Mandaue City. Ako maoy gusto sa among mga leaders pero wala ko mo commit,” he said. (AIV)
