Tainting government service

Last Wednesday, operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) swooped down the residence of Land Transportation Office (LTO) Tarlac Officer–in-Charge and seized nine sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), a hand grenade, and bullets from a .45 calibre firearm.

By virtue of a search warrant, the conducted illegal drugs operation resulted into the booting out of the government service and the filing of administrative and criminal charges against Rogel Yambao. It was the fruit of the enforcers’ tight surveillance over the LTO official following reports of his involvement in illegal drug activities.

Ymabao is considered a high-value target (HVT) considering that he is a government employee. HVTs are notorious people or members of syndicates involved in illegal drugs activities. With the government’s massive campaign against illegal drugs, government officials and employees are classified as among the HVTs under the Oplans Tokhang and Double Barrel.

If an LTO official is involved in illegal drugs activities, it poses a bad example for drivers securing their driver’s licenses from the said agency.

***

Recently, police also arrested an employee of the the City of San Fernando Environment Office (CENRO) by the name of Jhay Jhon Bondoc Roque, for alleged possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride after being flagged down in a checkpoint conducted by the local PNP.

Roque was not wearing a helmet while driving a motorcycle and when he was stopped at a checkpoint, he began acting suspiciously. This prompted lawmen to conduct body search and was found to possess quantities of the suspected illegal substance.

Being a government employee, he is also considered a high-value target who was arrested during a coincidental search in a checkpoint. People in the government service are getting bolder these days.

***

Today is Mothers’Day. It is but proper and fitting to spare this day for all mothers in the world. The idea of celebrating this day dates back to the 1850s when women in West Virginia USA organized Mother’s Day work clubs. Many of these work club events were organized by Ann Jarvis who lost 9 of her 13 children before becoming adults.

Her death triggered the first Mother’s Day observance in 1908 to honor her. In 1914, then US President Woodrow Wilson named the second Sunday in May a national holiday in honor of all American mothers.

The Philippines has adopted this tradition thus we are likewise celebrating the day for all mothers in the country. Allow me to greet in my own little way all mothers I know a Happy Mother’s Day!

***

Tomorrow meanwhile is Election Day. After a couple of election postponements that led to the extension of terms of offices of incumbent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, comes now this democratic exercise of choosing our leaders in the grassroots level.

Let us vote not on the basis of wealth, popularity or notoriety, but on the integrity of candidates who will truly serve us after the elections. Barangay elections are very localized in the sense that we truly know the qualifications and character of election bets simply because they reside in our own communities.

***

For any comments, ideas, suggestions or opinions, text or call The Advocate at 09213636360 or sen d email at dencious@gmail.com