Senate to pay tribute to Barbers

The Senate will pay its last respects to former Sen. Robert Barbers during necrological services at the upper chamber in Pasay City on Tuesday next week.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Barbers’ remains will be brought to the Senate at 10 a.m. on Tuesday after an overnight vigil at the Manila Police District headquarters.

The senator’s remains will be brought to his home province of Surigao del Norte on Friday and will be taken back to Manila on Monday.

Drilon will lead the current and former senators in paying tribute to Barbers, who served as a member of the upper chamber during the 11th Congress from (1998 to 2001) and the 12th Congress (2001-2004).

Among those invited to speak during the services are Vice President Noli de Castro, former senator Ramon Revilla, Senator Alfredo Lim, Senator Sergio Osmena III, Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier; and Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Drilon described Barber as a "giant of a public servant, especially in the field of promoting peace and order."

"Senator Barbers will certainly go down in the annals of Philippine history as a true and dedicated public servant who utilized his talent and skills as street cop to become an effective legislator, especially in the area of law enforcement. He was what we may call a street smart lawmaker," he said.

Drilon said Barbers will be remembered for bringing his anti-crime advocacy to Congress and crafting countless major pieces of legislation addressing crime and the drug menace.

Barbers was the principal sponsor of Republic Act 1965 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which repealed the Dangerous Drugs Act and sought to impose stiffer penalties for possession and peddling of illegal drugs.

Barbers, a former Surigao del Norte congressman, and a bemedalled Manila police colonel, became a senator in 1998. He died Sunday at the age of 61.

Barbers is the fourth Philippine senator to die in the last three years. The first was Senator Renato Cayetano (June 24, 2003) followed by Senate president and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople (Dec. 14, 2003), and Sen. Raul Roco (Aug. 5, 2005).

Best in Asia

When Barbers headed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the late 90s, he had envisioned a Philippine National Police that was the best in Asia.

This vision was inspired by the enactment and eventual implementation of the Local Government Code, which abolished the military-oriented Integrated National Police and paved the way for the creation of the PNP.

Under Local Government Code of 1991, the PNP, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Fire Protection was placed under the jurisdiction of the reorganized DILG.

The new code provides the establishment of a highly efficient police force that is national in scope and civilian in character.

With the new law, he said, the PNP could become the best police force in Asia by 2010.

Rising from a beat policeman to become the top official of the DILG, Barbers said that with the new code, anti-crime training, modern equipment and high salaries would dramatically transform the PNP from an image of a corruption organization to a well respected and effective and feared law body in the region.

"It is a long-term plan and this one of my priorities", Barbers told this reporter when he assumed the post of DILG chief.

To address the rising criminality in Metro Manila, Barbers created a police quick reaction unit based at DILG headquarters. He also activated the police sky patrol, which tracked down bank robbers.

Barbers also intensified the anti-drug campaign and carried out operations against well-organized drug syndicates.

To protect policemen from legal harassment, the DILG mobilized volunteer lawyers to provide assistance to officers who were sued while performing their duty.

Barbers also mobilized the citizenry in the fight against criminality by organizing anti-crime groups and strengthening the local, city, provincial and regional peace and order councils.

His anti-crime drive and his rapport with local government officials were major factors in successful attempt to run as senator. He placed fifth in the 1998 Senate derby.

As a senator, Barbers pursued with vigor the anti-crime campaign.

He was the principal proponent of the New Dangerous Drugs Act, which made illegal drug trafficking a capital offense.

But the most unique title bestowed upon him was that of "doctor."

Every day, people from all walks of life lined up to see him at his office to seek help in various problems, including those seeking transport fare, medicine, and police assistance. His callers included the disabled and the sick.

"I am like a doctor because people come to me for treatment of their problems," Barbers once said.

The senator said his prescription included recommendation for job placements, referral to government agencies and at times outright cash for a stranded constituent.

"If I can help an average of 300 people a day you can count and multiply the blessings they can share with their families," he said. – With Perseus Echeminada