Yesterday, some minutes after 1 o’clock early afternoon, Mary Jane Veloso, allegedly a drug courier arrested and convicted in Indonesia a little over 15 years ago, set foot anew in her native Philippines.
Hours prior to her departure in Jakarta, Indonesia for the Philippines, she was already covered live by both the Philippines and Indonesian media. When her plane landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, she was like a rock star dropping by.
Not only that her trip back home was covered live by the Philippine media but also her arrival in Manila. News anchors having their broadcast at the time her plane landed, wanted to interview her. Perhaps it was the most amazing thing to happen in Veloso’s lifetime. That is, her being given the kind of attention that normally is accorded only to popular and bigtime personalities.
But then again Veloso’s case was not just a saga of someone who perhaps unintentionally committed the crime charged. Rather, hers was a journey in diplomacy and politics that spanned terms of two Presidents and over two years into the incumbent Malacanang tenant.
During the term of the late President Benigno Simeon Aquino when Veloso was arrested and subsequently convicted, there were no clear and verifiable efforts to have Veloso extradited to the Philippines.
At the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte there seemed to be no effort to have her moved to the Philippines. We could not remember that there were talks on Veloso’s case at all. Of course it was understandable because the former President was creating an image of a country and administration that cannot tolerate anything about the illegal drug manufacture and trade.
So the family of Veloso and many other Filipinos somewhat sympathetic to Mary Jane could not be faulted if they would heap credit to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the return of the woman drug courier-convict to the Philippines. But Filipinos should not be carried away by the jubilation on Veloso’s transfer to the Philippines’ penitentiary facility or possibly a grant of clemency by the President.
Instead, they should take it as a painful lesson not to be swayed into attempting to allow themselves as accessories to those engaged in the business of illegal merchandise in exchange of a huge sum of money.
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Tomorrow the best Philippine National Police director general we never had will be retiring from service. Yes, Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria, once a Davao City Police Office Director will be turning 56, the compulsory retirement age for policemen.
The Police General who we consider one among our best friends despite having not met him personally after all those years, will be back to private life unless some positions in other government agencies or private corporations are already waiting for him.
Yes, General Dubria could have been an effective police national director if we have to reckon with his accomplishments in the various offices at the PNP he once occupied. We have also learned that all through the years of his service Dubria was able to work with civilian authorities and his superiors in the Police organization.
That was why many were very sad when the incumbent President did not appoint him Police Director General after the retirement of then Police Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. However, it did not take long for us to consider Dubria’s non-appointment as a “blessing in disguised.” Had General Dubria been appointed by Marcos Jr. as the PNP chief he would have been likened to someone situated “between the devil and the deep blue sea.”
Yes, with the flare-up of the political squabble between the group of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the group of now President Marcos, Jr. prominently including the President’s cousin Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Dubria’s every move would have been subject to stringent scrutiny by either of the contending parties.
If he were the PNP chief Dubria’s handling of the Quiboloy case would have been suspect considering that the General is from Davao, the home base of the Dutertes. That is, any move perceived rightly or wrongly, favorable to the then embattled Pastor will definitely not bode well with the Malacanang tenant.
In the same manner, any action seen as favoring the national government will not be appreciated by the Dutertes who are known supporters of the Pastor.
In all these, General Dubria was merely an “insider looking out,” or an “outsider looking in.” But surely he might have felt missing a serious challenge to his capability as a top police official.
Anyhow, all those opportunities met and missed are already “water under the bridge” with his retirement starting tomorrow.
We however, hope that the good general will continue to be of service to the Filipino people in whatever capacity he will have when he takes off his police uniform.
Hoping to finally meet you in person General Mike.
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