To better respond to criminality and improve on implementing peace and order in the country, the government recently released a P1.75 billion modernization fund for the Philippine National Police (PNP). The fund was released amid probes on the anomalous purchase of helicopters and rubber boats linked to the PNP during the term of President Gloria Arroyo.
At a recent press briefing, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said that the fund will be used in purchasing “11,000 units of brand new guns to fill up firearms insufficiency in the PNP, 750 units of digital base, mobile and handheld radio to provide a faster means of communication, as well as police vehicle units.” The P1.75 billion fund is part of the PNP’s P2billion budget for Capability Enhancement Program.
In line with present administration’s protocol that all transactions be done in daylight, Abad pledged that his office will take full responsibility in making sure that caution will be applied upon determining and using the modernization funds.
Citing the helicopter controversy, President Benigno Aquino III assured to the PNP during its110th celebration that policemen will only get the brand new and not those formerly used by ”some Herod (erroneous official).”
Many may have lauded Aquino for addressing the deficiencies in the PNP, but it is still not enough for the families of the victims of the August 23, 2010 Manila bus hostage taking.
A report posted on the Inquirer.net last August 28, 2011, stated that the family of the slain tourist guide, Masa Tse Ting Chunn, started an online petition following the refusal of President Aquino to meet with them when the latter was touring the Manila South Harbor Pier 13. The family was aware that the President was only “several hundred meters” away from where they were commemorating the tragic death of their kin on August 23, 2011 at the Quirino Grandstand.
Mad over the Aquino administration’s firm belief that only the gunned-down hostage-taker and dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza was to blame for the incident, the Tse family tagged President Aquino as “irresponsible.” Thus, demanding a public apology, compensation and accountability for the incident.
In his defense, President Aquino said during his tour at Pier 13 that the government had already complied with two of the demands of the kin of the victims—compensation and justice; and that there was no need to apologize. The Chief Executive was held by his strong conviction that a whole nation should not be blamed for the mistake of one man. He expounded that while his administration “understand their hurt,” there is not much a government can do even with advance equipments or skills especially when “we have a deranged individual who suddenly changes position, practically on a whim.” He also acknowledged the testimony from the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) that “all of the victims had been shot before our forces even moved against them.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Cristina Ortega said in a report that China considers the Manila bus hostage taking a closed issue despite an active travel ban still imposed by Hong Kong against the country.
While the grief and hate that the relatives of the victims feel are understandable, it would be unfair to say that the President’s refusal to apologize is just out of plain pride. What would apologies do if nothing is done to correct the wrongs? Forgiveness should not be forced; it should be done out of freewill so a person can wholeheartedly make efforts to make up and learn from his mistakes. With the confidence of the administration upon them, it is important for the PNP to prove that have learned their mistakes and are determined to show that they can protect their countrymen and foreign visitors in times of need.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(NYNJ Sept 2-8, 2011 Sec A pg. 6)