We are one among the “welcomers” of newly designated Police Regional Office XI Director Brig. Gen. Victor Zamora Rosete. The new PRO XI chief arrived yesterday at Camp Quintin Merecido along C. P. Garcia Diversion road in Buhangin district where the turn-over of command was officiated with outgoing PRO Director Nicolas Torre III. The latter has been promoted to head the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Torre’s promotion in responsibility (and possibly rank sooner) came after the 16-day controversial massive search of then fugitive Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Church inside the 30-hectare compound of the religion’s main headquarters. The primary purpose of the police was of course to serve the warrants of arrest issued by both a Davao City-based and a Pasig city courts against the religious leader.
In an earlier column we wrote about the change of command at the PRO XI we manifested our wish for Brig. Gen. Rosete to immediately start working on reconciliatory measures between the Police Regional Office and the Davao City government. The somewhat strained relation between the two entities is an offshoot of certain controversial moves by the then Director Torre that were seen as “unacceptable” by the leadership of the city, specifically by Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
Of course with what happened we find it a difficult task for Rosete to restore the once ideal relation between the PRO XI leadership and the leaders of the city. Imagine, in the short stint of Torre as Director of the Regional Police the headquarters of which is hosted by Davao City, he has not even made a courtesy call on Davao City Mayor “Baste” Duterte, an act that is traditionally done by previous directors!
Now that Torre may have already flown back to Manila to assume his new post, it cannot be denied that he left a command that the host city may be hesitant to work with or provide support of whatever nature.
So we feel it is imperative for General Rosete to work back and study carefully where and how he would take off in his efforts to convince the Davao City leaders that his term is that of closely working with the local government leaders. He must find ways to convince Mayor Baste that the police is very much on its mandate to ensure the protection of his constituents by ensuring the prevalence of peace and order in this part of Mindanao.
Can Rosete succeed? Well, it all depends on how he would start his reconciliatory moves. If his first step will further alienate the local leaders then there is no doubt he will fail.
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The other day Vice President Sara Duterte was reported to have graced the opening activities of the facilities of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) inside the Camp Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The camp is the main headquarters of the Philippine Military just in front of Camp Crame of the Philippine National Police from where the 75 police security personnel of the VP came from and withdrawn some three months ago.
VP Sara’s new security group consists of personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force. It is led by Col. Raymund Dante Lachica. Not a single policeman is a member thereof.
Now the question is why? Has the Vice President totally lost confidence in the police organization? Did she make any request to personally choose from the police for her security and those of the members of her family?
And if the VP indeed has requested the national police leadership to choose her security personnel, was her request denied by the PNP Director General? If so, then VP Sara could not be faulted to run to the Philippine Military to provide her the security personnel she and her family need.
The question now is whether there was some kind of courtesy coordination and securing of clearance from the Police in the creation of the VPSPG composed of purely military personnel? Was the President advised of the military’s decision to provide the security personnel of the VP considering that the President is the Commander-in-Chief of both the Military and Police Organizations?
If none of these were done then what do that make of the police and the military? Some may possibly be entertaining the idea that certain sectors of society, and possibly from the government itself, are out to create a wedge between the two armed services of the country.
Depending on how this development will evolve we, and perhaps many other people, would think that this apparent “alienation” move could possibly become a “danger-in-waiting”. We can only hope that this assumption of ours and several others will not happen.
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Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte says he will uphold the “rule of the majority if calls for a revolutionary government movement arise.
So, the city mayor has no intension to lead such a movement? Who then is Mayor Baste hoping to initiate and then lead such movement? What possible condition in the country and its government is awaited to happen to ignite the rise of such movement calling for a revolutionary government?
For now we still cannot find enough reasons. Instead, what we can vividly observe is the non-stop political mudslinging that is dominating the pages of newspapers and the various social media platforms. And these are geared towards the 2025 midterm elections. Street chaos is so far absent, except vehicular traffic in the country’s major cities and business enclaves. The labor front is relatively silent, and the business community, specifically big businesses, appear contented with existing economic policies.
So, it is our take that calls for the launching of movements for a revolutionary government may still be only in the minds of politicians desiring to acquire positions in government the earliest and easiest possible means.
