EDITORIAL

Revamp Is A Must In PNP Region 6

By Alex P. Vidal

PNP Director Barias Has Much To Explain In Lim Kidnap Case

Whatever justification they will give, it cannot be denied that the kidnapping of Ilonggo Tsinoy lending executive William Lim last August 29 in Iloilo has tarnished the leadership of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) Director Geary Barias. Barias was barely 28 days in office as PNP regional director when the kidnapping-for-ransom, a major and earthshaking crime, occurred. To compound the matter, not a single suspect has been identified or arrested five days since Lim was released last September 2. To add insult, the PNP still have the temerity to downplay the abductors as "amateurs."

IF THEY WERE ‘AMATEURS’, WHY ARE THEY STILL FREE?

How did they manage to establish that the criminals were amateurs? If they were amateurs, why can’t the PNP easily arrest them? If they can’t get these "amateurs" in a "small" Iloilo area, there is no assurance that they can touch the professionals or the hardened and organized kidnapping-for-ransom (KFR) gang members with a ten foot pole once they strike like a thief in the night anytime. It’s inconceivable that the PNP can’t bag even a single culprit in the kidnapping incident. Unless they enjoy the protection of powerful characters with links to the PNP, can they arrest them?
If our local officials want to regain the trust and confidence of the Chinese-Filipino business community and the national and foreign investors, they should petition for a revamp of the entire PNP leadership in Western Visayas . There should be no sacred cows here. There are allegations that Director Barias is a crony of Negros Rep. Iggy Arroyo. Even if he is the most decorated top cop in the world today, Director Barias cannot claim any glory unless he will bag the hooligans that terrorized the Lim family. In fact, Barias’ association with Rep. Arroyo has became the source of countless speculations and whispers now circulating in the coffeshops, offices, shopping malls, and public markets. If the PNP cannot arrest the kidnappers, we can’t blame the Ilonggos to suspect that Barias is not a reliable PNP official.

RODING GANZON AND GEN. ZULUETA

When a wealthy Chinese-Filipino trader was kidnapped in Iloilo City in the late 90’s, then Mayor Roding Ganzon, banking on a strong intelligence report, courageously blamed then PNP regional commander Brig. General Roming Zulueta. After "exposing" Zulueta in the media, Ganzon dared the Tagalog-speaking general to sue him for libel. His mouth shaking, Zulueta could only quip: "Naniniwala pa ba kayo kay Ganzon?" when asked by reporters to answer Ganzon’s charges. He did not sue Ganzon for libel.

"NANINIWALA PA BA TAYO KAY BARIAS?"

Again, unless the PNP will bag the kidnappers of Lim and bring them to the calaboose, we can’t blame some Ilonggos if, in chorus, they will declare: "Naniniwala pa ba tayo kay Barias?" /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com