Integrity

PDEA’s Aquino. Magalong revealed during the committee hearings that the police report from the drug

only around 38 kilograms of drugs, instead of about 200 kg. The joint Senate panel has recommended that

resigned Albayalde over his alleged involvement in the “monumental cover-up” of a 2013 sale of drugs seized from a buy-bust operation by 13 cops.

The Senate committee report concluded that Albayalde “violated section 3(a) and 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the ‘Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,’ with each prohibited act of ‘persuading, induc

a violation of rules and regulations’; and ‘causing undue injury to any party, including the government…’” If found guilty, Agbayalde could face six to 15 years imprisonment; per

in favor of the government of any prohibited interest and unexplained wealth. The report further pointed out that Albayalde also allegedly violated Section 27 of RA 9165, or the “Comprehensive Dangerous

from the drug reselling; and Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code for interference in the dismissal of the 13 cops. These violations could sentence him to life imprisonment,

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While the hearings were going on, PRRD appointed controversial Police Col. Gerald Bantag as the new director general of the BuCor in place of Faeldon. Bantag, former warden of the Manila and Parañaque city jails, replaced Faeldon who was removed last September 4 over the GCTA scandal. Bantag immediately destroyed all shelters, or inside the four quadrants of the maximum security compound, which houses some 18,000 inmates. The cleaning was surgical from the GCTA’s tightening the noose so a pivot was needed to prevent further erosion of support and a potential build up to a crisis, to the actual destruction of the illegal structures to end a potentially damaging scenario for this administration. Along the way, Albayalde was exposed and this led to a decision to resign.

Still, there are many loose ends that need to be looked into: the GCTA list and amendment of the law; strengthening the disciplinary powers over police via a strong CIDG and independent National Police Commission; vetting system to choose the PNP chief; PDEA being the lead agency in the illegal drugs war; purging the PNP of ninja cops; custodial responsibilities of seized evidence and the certainty of punishment among erring men and women in uniform, among others.

Integrity is the sum total of character. Thus, when appeals are made not to sully a reputation built through the years, observers would be reminded of the saying, “be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

And when we recognize the contribution of a man known for integrity and probity such as the sum total of the life of Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., one thinks about what Abraham Lincoln said: “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” And so another chapter closes of great men and women passing and leaving behind a legacy worth emulating. Nene Pimentel, human rights lawyer, arrested four times during the Marcos dictatorship, was a delegate of the constitutional convention of 1973; mayor of Cagayan de Oro and later a member of Integrated Bar of the Philippines; he ran for and gained a seat in the reconvened Senate in 1987 and in 2000 became Senate President. Partnering with then Senate President Jovito “Jovy” Salonga, as called by young minds wanting to be mentored by the seasoned advocate of decentralization, autonomy and federalism, ran for vice president under the Salonga ticket in 1992. Those were the days when running for the presidency was not a popularity con

but of dreams, programs and what mattered to Juan; when honor was

metrics considered by voters.

How many of the uniformed personnel can stare at power and turn their backs from it? How many can discipline their people and not just suffer a diminution of rank? How many can deal with the elephant in the room and tell the King he has no clothes? How many are Benjies and not Ocas in PNP? How many of the men and women of the PNP can stand tall along with Tatay and remain fearless and principled? And when you analyze reform in the interior sector and why interior was added to the local government department, you will understand why Tatay wanted a professional PNP, civilian in character and why interior was part and parcel of the local government code.

Integrity cannot be bought, it cannot be inherited or earned. It cannot be borrowed or invented. Integrity was Nene Pimentel.