Monday, May 19, 2008 Mercado: Don Quixote tilts the PNP windmill By Ram Mercado First Person
THE police organization and the national administration in effect find it embarrassing to deny Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio's desire to have a police officer of his choice assigned to his province.
The psychological impact of turning down the Governor's request is that Panlilio is being persecuted for his "hostile" act and attitude against the President of the Philippines.
This is what I have monitored from citizens at large who believed that the governor is being put down by powers that be, or is being cut down to size for his anti-administration politics.
Public opinion is on the side of the former priest. Clearly, majority of Pampangos expressed favorable opinion supporting the governor on his decision. It is actually boosting his chances for a second term.
The fact that President Arroyo, herself, as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and as Chief Executive had assigned certain officers in top position, despite other similar candidates with senior rank as general, renders the PNP dictum on seniority vacuous and less relevant.
Consider, too that the present PPO-OIC counts far down the line from Panlilio's nominee.
The populace, of course, is aware of the seniority lineal rule. They also believe that if the President wills it, it can be done.
What Governor Panlilio should have done was to go straight to the Palace and implore the President to grant his wish. Going to the PNP regional office, then to the Chief PNP, to get his demand is like inserting a sugar cane into an old mill crusher and expecting carabao's milk.
Panlilio's weakness was in telegraphing his anti-jueteng message and the wishful thought of eradicating jueteng through the appointment of his choice, Senior Superintendent Cesar Binag (PMA '87). No, sir, the PNP gross abhors elective officials who want personal choices for police chiefs in their areas.
I wonder why the Palace, through the PNP, should not accommodate Panlilio's nominee and not create a martyr out of the governor as he is now seen.
For this perceived "persecution", Panlilio, who has been losing much public goodwill in the past months, is now re-invented as a strong re-electionist. His choice lady appointees in the Capitol have been rejected. Now his chosen PPO director is likewise turned down.
Denying Panlilio this right and privilege to get a police director of choice for technical or organizational reason, will fuel public opinion against whoever runs against Panlilio in 2010.
This apparent complicated dilemma has a simple solution. Appoint Superintendent Binag as PPO chief. Try as he might, he would fail to eradicate jueteng.
Governor Panlilio, on the other hand, has recovered a sizeable chunk of public opinion which he has been losing by his populist crusade to have a PPO director of his trust. He is on the right trail, our Don Quixote.
His campaign may fail but the voters would rate him favorably for his efforts. The underdog often wins inexplicable sympathy in any fight.
Malacañang should grant Panlilio his wish for an honest, straight, and pure-hearted police chief. As long as the Small Town Lottery (STL) is here, no one but nobody can succeed to wipe out jueteng.
Disarming Governor Ed of this damaging issue at this time will do great wonder for the "Million Dollar Baby" should she make a comeback in 2010.
Panlilio, if he is really serious in the jueteng campaign, should run after and dismantle the STL in Pampanga. Then he could round up the jueteng workers whose sheer number may not be accommodated inside the Capitol's People's Gym".
