Care to surprise me, Mr. President?

LET me be clear people: I support Pres. Duterte and his administration.

To elaborate, I support PDU30’s “war” on drugs, government red tape and corruption, his independent foreign policy and the way he has been handling the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the incompetence of those around him, particularly, health secretary, Francisco Duque III,

But supporting the administration does not mean supporting all his decisions, especially those that affect the credibility of his policy pronouncements.

And in particular, I am referring to his appointment of erstwhile PNP DCA, P/Lt. General Camilo Cascolan as replacement to retired PNP director general, Archie Gamboa.

Nothing personal about it, dear readers—both Gen. Cascolan and I have never met and we don’t know each other on a personal and professional level.

But if Pres. Duterte is really serious in reforming a very corrupt organization such as the PNP, putting Cascolan, who is to retire in two months’ time anyway, sends the wrong message about his seriousness.

Indeed, the President’s decision sends the message that, yes Jose, “palakasan” is still the name of the game. And to heck with “pagbabago,” hahaha!

The word I have been getting is that, Cascolan was selected because he was “pinagbigyan,” on the “bulong” of those personally close to Pres. Duterte.

Well then, if “bigayan” is the name of the game, then our gentle advise to our beloved President is to stop uttering the words, “reform” and “genuine change.”

It is grating to the ears of those who sincerely believes in him because they felt themselves being taken as dumb followers and as fools.

Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, on hindsight—and I admire him for his candor– said that his biggest “mistake” as PDU30’s first Chief PNP, was to launch the drug war without first launching an “internal cleansing” of the PNP.

For this is the crux of the problem bedeviling Pres. Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs and corruption—the corruption inside the PNP and the involvement of policemen in the illegal drug trade.

Had Sen. Bato realized much earlier where the “fixing of the problem” should be done first, I am sure the war on illegal drugs and corruption would have been half finished by now.

Thus, the question: Should we really take President Duterte’s words seriously?

Is he really serious in reforming the PNP? Are those in the PNP and at the DILG also really serious about reforms? If not, then let us drop all the pretense about reforms, In short, let us stop being hypocrites, for Christ sake!

But let me hazard another guess, dear readers: the most qualified man for the job, P/Lt. General Guillermo Eleazar would, in the end, be also bypassed for the position.

For why should he be given the chance to lead the PNP when the last thing the crooks and the syndicates in this government would want to happen is to have a Chief PNP serious in reforming it?

That is “bad for business” and a menace to the “tabakuhan.”

And so, we should not be surprised if, before his retirement this November, it was announced that Cascolan’s term would be “extended” until next year.

And when the time comes for him to be finally replaced, it would be announced that another “Davao General” would replace Cascolan.

The argument? Well, it is because the election season is just around the corner and the Palace would of course want a Chief PNP who knows how to dirty his hands in politics.

This would again leave out Gen. Eleazar, would it not, dear readers?

But let us give the President the benefit of the doubt, shall we?

Surprise me then, President Duterte.

Abangan!