‘I’m no Superman’

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — He admits that he’s no Superman to totally eradicate jueteng which so far has cost the heads of seven police generals. Not even in the President’s home-province.

"There’s so much pressure," said Senior Superintendent Rodolfo "Boogie" Mendoza Jr., this province’s outgoing police director. He is President Arroyo’s choice to head the Pampanga police, vice Senior Superintendent Arturo Cacdac.

"People close to the President will expect so much from me. But I am not a Superman," he added.

But Mendoza believes that Mrs. Arroyo wants him in Pampanga not to eradicate jueteng alone, saying the greatest challenge for him there will be in fighting terrorism, particularly by communist factions.

"It’s a big challenge on my part (to serve Pampanga) because if I fail to deliver and measure up to the expectations of the people and the officials there, I will be an easy target of criticism ," he said.

Criticisms he got this early though, days before he assumes the top Pampanga police post after the July 15 barangay polls. For one, some quarters claimed that jueteng flourished in Pangasinan under his watch.

But Mendoza belied that there has been growing resistance among Pampanga police officers to his designation.

"In fact, after the President made the announcement, I received telephone calls from various officers," he said.

"I think with this public pronouncement, maybe the President has recognized some of my contributions," he added. — With Cesar Ramirez