THE Senate hearing, spearheaded by Sen. Richard Gordon of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Justice investigating the alleged recycling of recovered illegal drugs by policemen tagged as “ninja cops,” reminds me of a board game I used to play with my cousin.
The Game of Generals, according to Wikipedia, simulates armies at war trying to overpower, misinform, outflank, outmaneuver and destroy each other. It optimizes the use of logic and memory skills. It is designed for two players, each controlling an army and a neutral arbiter to decide the resulting challenges between opposing playing pieces.
Both players apply certain strategies and tactics, however, the game allows both sides the chance of securing a better idea of the other’s plan as the game progresses to win the game. Players can also speak or gesture to their opponents during matches, hoping to create a false impression about the identity of their pieces or their overall strategy.
Former Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) Chief Gen. Benjamin Magalong and former Provincial Director of PNP Pampanga Gen. Oscar Albayalde, now PNP Chief, have different narratives, one accusing the other of meddling in a dismissal case involving his men while the other is accused of inaction. Other generals presented salient points on controversies involving the police.
Several alleged “ninja cops” were recommended for dismissal for various irregularities. The buy-bust operation in Pampanga in 2013 involved a Chinese drug lord. Of the 200 kilos confiscated, only 32 were declared recovered. The policemen who were supposedly dismissed were instead demoted and still hold sensitive positions.
The arbiter in this Senate’s Game of the Generals is Senator Gordon.
For someone who claims he is dead serious on the war against drugs, it is hard to believe General Albayalde would only ask for the status of the case and not pursue the implementation of the dismissal order. Had it not for the inquisitive General Magalong, our senators would not have known about the controversial buy-bust operation.
Nobody knows the whereabouts of Johnson Lee who was allegedly allowed to go free for P50 million in exchange for the drug lord’s freedom. A witness alleged that a certain Ding Wenkun was picked up to replace Lee who, in the police spot report, allegedly escaped.
In the Game of the Generals, a private is the only one who can get the flag. I pray a private will finally break his silence and end this game being played in the Senate.