My heart goes out to Digong over Sinas

SINCE the ABS-CBN Corp. will not be reopening anytime soon, why doesn’t the government take over the network to give the public a choice over what to listen to in news on the pandemic and save the network’s 11,000 talents and employees from going jobless?

The government can invoke an emergency situation in taking over the giant radio-TV outlet at this time.

Here’s what Article 12, Section 17 of the Constitution says: “In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the State may, during emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately owned public utility or business affected with public interest.”

Here’s my humble suggestion: Retain the present management, rank-and-file personnel and talents, but take Eugenio Gabriel “Gabby” Lopez 3rd, the owner, out of the picture.

Pay Gabby Lopez or whatever, but take him out because he’s the center of controversy.

But to avoid suspicion of conflict of interest, no friend or crony of President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte, like billionaire Dennis Uy, should buy or lease the network while the renewal of its franchise is being discussed in Congress.

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My heart goes out to President Digong who has retained MGen. Debold Sinas as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office.

Sinas violated quarantine rules, mandatory physical distancing and the law against mass gathering when he held a birthday party two weeks ago, which was attended by his subordinates at the police camp in Bicutan, Taguig City.

The President made the judgment call as commander in chief of the armed services — the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

I know Digong well enough to know that he’s bullheaded when it comes to defending his subordinates from criticism from the public.

I’m reminded of my father, Ramon S. Tulfo, who defended his subordinates who committed wrongdoing while performing their duties.

Philippine Constabulary Colonel Tulfo would take the hit for his men who went astray in following his orders.

The supreme test of my father’s loyalty to his men came when he retired from the service prematurely to deflect flak from his subordinates who obeyed his order to raid an office of another law enforcement agency.

But Sinas was not following orders from the President when he violated the law; he did it for his own benefit and convenience.

Now, if there is a teeny-weeny bit of delicadeza (propriety) left in him, Sinas should take a leave for a while to save the President from intense criticism on his account.

Kapal naman ng mukha mo, ‘pre ( You’re thickfaced, my friend)!

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It would be to the best interest of the Duterte administration to appoint Yvette Cutaran-Contacto as commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to replace her husband, Ted.

Yvette is a lawyer-accountant like Gregorio Luis “Ted” Contacto, who died last month of cancer.

Ted was a very honest and a no-nonsense public official, and it follows that his wife is, too.

Yvette, 53, has impeccable credentials: scholar at the College of Law at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila; graduated cum laude from the College of Commerce, major in accounting at San Sebastian College; scholar of San Miguel Corp. in the accounting major course; dean’s lister, San Sebastian College of Commerce; awardee of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountant; first honors, elementary at the Siena College.

Since Ted is already gone, I now have the liberty to tell you an anecdote about his honesty and dedication to his work at the PACC.

A presidential appointee once approached Ted who was investigating reports of corruption allegedly committed by the official.

The official swore to Ted that he didn’t commit any wrongdoing.

Contacto told the presidential appointee that if the investigation showed that he was innocent of the charges, he would be exonerated immediately.

Ted found that reports about the presidential appointee’s alleged corrupt activities were just made up by people envious of him.

Ecstatic over his exoneration, the official attempted to give Contacto P500,000 as a token of gratitude.

“P****gi*aka,masyadomonamanginiinsultoangaking pagkataosasuholmo.Kunginosenteka,bakitkamagbibigaysa akin (You son of a b***h, you’re insulting my person. If you’re innocent why should you bribe me)?” Contacto responded. By the way, Ted had no backlog of cases he was handling at the PACC.