Philippine ‘Talibanism’ not the answer

Talibanism, Philippine-stlye, may not be the answer.

Administration and opposition lawmakers cautioned Malacañang yesterday against overdoing its "nightlife checks" even as they challenged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to name the politicians it said were responsible for the recent crime wave.

Tarlac Rep. Gilberto Teodoro said new lifestyle checks and raids on fun spots would "do little to improve governance." He said that besides monitoring the nocturnal activities of public officials, the government is now looking into reports of "unexplained spouses" as well.

"Stability, performance and the correct system, rather than Philippine Talibanism, will improve the situation," Teodoro said.

Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra said Malacañang should also ban government officials fromcasinos operated by the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) if it is really serious in implementing its anti-corruption campaign.

"If the moral police in Malacañang find the idea of cops carousing with bar girls reprehensible, then they should be revolted at the sight of government officials rolling the dice or playing baccarat in government-run casinos," Mitra said.

He said the law creating Pagcor bans government employees and officials from playing at Pagcor casinos.

However, the law did not provide for sanctions against government workers and officials caught gambling in these casinos, so Malacañang, possibly through the Civil Service Commission (CSC), must plug the loophole by issuing a circular enumerating punishments for violations of the Pagcor law.

Mitra added that with over P18 billion in annual income, Pagcor does not need the revenues brought by "high-rollers from the government sector."

Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles opposed the "nightlife checks," saying they won’t necessarily prevent graft and corruption.

"Nightlife according to moderation and according to means is okay, but abrupt change in spending habits is suspicious," Nograles said.

He said that as long as a government official does not spend lavishly while out nightclubbing, the government has no business impeding their right to unwind after a day’s work.

Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, vice chairman of the House committee on illegal drugs, challenged the PNP to file charges against the five politicians it said were protecting illegal drug syndicates. According to him, it is "sloppy police work" to merely hint at the five drug lord-coddling politicians.

"The right thing for them to do is identify these politicians, hale them to court and arrest them the moment the warrants are issued," Zubiri said. "We want narco-politicos behind bars, not hints of their identities in blind items and gossip columns."

He said the PNP should arrest police and military officers protecting drug syndicates whom he said are more numerous and dangerous than the alleged drug-lord-coddling politicians.

House Minority Leader Rolex Suplico said the new lifestyle campaign is another diversionary tactic by Malacañang to draw public attention away from the Jose Pidal scandal involving First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

He said the PNP should name names and not engage in "fishing expeditions" in saying some politicians are involved in drugs and bank robberies.

Suplico said it is obvious that the opposition is being targeted by the PNP, based on its statements. "The PNP is making the politicians whipping boys when the scalawags are in the PNP."