The real whistle-blowers

Barely two weeks into office, newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) director-general Ricardo Marquez got his baptism of fire in two major security events that took place in the country’s metropolitan capital. Taking place one after the other this week was the 101st anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and the last state of the nation address (SONA) of President Benigno “Noy” Aquino at the Batasan Pambansa.

While the two separate events happened in close proximity, both posed security nightmares for the new leadership of the country‘s premier law enforcement agency. Fortunately, President Aquino made the best decision as Commander-in-chief in appointing Marquez to head the PNP during this crucial period of his administration.

Marquez acquitted himself after shadowy characters made last-ditch efforts to prevent his being appointed as PNP chief. Even after he was named PNP chief, they did not stop. Intrigues were thrown at Marquez as being an alleged “INC-backed” appointee. It did not gain credence since President Aquino is not exactly known to be close with the Manalos of INC.

The allegations against Marquez came out last week following the scandal still rocking the INC up to now. This was after family feud-triggered incident at the INC central church in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City erupted in public a few days before their 101st anniversary.

Appearing as our guest along with Buhay party-list representative Lito Atienza during our weekly breakfast forum at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay last Wednesday at Luneta Hotel, Marquez expressed his every intention to live up to the trust and confidence of President Aquino in appointing him as PNP chief.

From a very distinguished handling of security during the papal visit, the President told Marquez to brace for the much bigger security nightmare ahead for the PNP. The Chief Executive cited the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ summit this November where 21 heads of economies are coming to Manila.

And the final task that Marquez will have to handle is the conduct of the next presidential elections in May 2016. It would be the fateful job of Marquez to handle the exit and entry of the outgoing and the new President. The 54-year old Marquez is due for mandatory retirement on his birthday on August 28, 2016.

Marquez took over from PNP deputy director-general Leonardo Espina who served for almost five months as officer-in-charge until his mandatory retirement last July 17. Espina remained OIC while erstwhile PNP chief Alan Purisima did not retire from the police service even after having resigned his post following the tragic Mamasapano incident in January this year.

Under the PNP law, there is only one four-star rank exclusively for the post of PNP director-general. This was invoked by the Palace to explain why it took long for the President to name a new PNP chief. This was to brush aside criticisms against P-Noy having difficulty to let go off Purisima because the ex-PNP chief is his best friend and most trusted shooting buddy.

This obstacle was finally removed last June 30 when the Office of the Ombudsman ordered Purisima and ten other PNP officers involved in the Mamasapano tragedy dismissed from the police service.

Purisima was found guilty of usurpation of authority by the special investigating body of the Ombudsman that looked into the Mamasapano incident. Forty-four troopers of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) were killed in a botched operation to capture most wanted terrorist bomber Marwan and Basit Usman. Marwan was killed and Usman was injured but was able to escape.

Purisima was held liable for taking the lead in the SAF operation even while he was serving a six-month suspension from the Ombudsman on a separate graft case.

Fast forward. More than six months after the Mamasapano incident, the grieving widows and families of the SAF44 were disappointed to say the least that not a single sentence was uttered by President Aquino in his more than two-hour long SONA to pay tribute or honor the heroism of the fallen men. But P-Noy did mention Marwan and other wanted criminals being neutralized.

Marquez assuaged the widows and families of the SAF 44 that the memories of their slain loved ones were never diminished by the President’s SONA. He noted the families of the SAF 44 got more than the families left behind by other battle-related casualties of PNP. The PNP chief disclosed he would lead another memorial service for the SAF 44 on August 8 and perhaps their families may still be getting additional benefits from the government on that occasion.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Atienza took up the cudgels for the SAF 44 and prodded the PNP chief to provide the kind of leadership at the PNP that truly serves and protects the people. A former mayor of Manila for three consecutive terms and previously vice mayor also, Atienza asked Marquez to support moves in Congress to decentralize the appointment of policemen and give back to the mayors the power in the choice of police chiefs.

While keeping an open mind, Marquez clarified, however, it is up to the lawmakers to initiate remedial legislation. Without any enabling law to carry this out, Marquez said the PNP would have to obey existing laws.

Atienza also suggested to the new PNP chief to go back to basics of policemen like carrying their whistles to help stop crime in progress. Marquez could only agree more.

During the traditional mammoth gathering the INC had at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan last Sunday, Marquez half-amusingly related how he found whistle as still the most valuable tool of policemen in the discharge of their duties in peace and order.

 Marquez said they were able to call the attention and herd people to go to the right directions and made them obey by merely blowing their whistle. But apparently the policemen’s whistles fell on deaf ears against militants during the SONA rally. Two plainclothes cops were mauled by the rallyists.

Winding down his office in the next 11 months, President Aquino has Marquez to keep peace and order until he steps out of Malacañang. The PNP director-general is only too happy to be the chief whistle blower of authority until that time.