Ilonggo officials want Gonzalez's resignation

Malacañang should heed the warning signals. In Iloilo, home-province of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, no less than Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. has denounced the justice secretary as having tarnished the integrity of the justice department.

President Arroyo should sack Gonzalez if she wants trafficking of drugs in the country to be controlled, added provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada.

Earlier, Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., had asked the House to conduct the hearing on the “Balasan Boys” here in the province. He claimed that several drug suspects from the town of Balasan managed to get their cases downgraded and secure bail.

The all-out attack against Gonzalez mostly centered on the non-bailable charges against Henry Caspillo and Rolly Tiope, both of Balasan town, who were arrested by the Iloilo police in possession of illegal drugs.

Police were in uproar over the downgrading of their non-bailable offense to a bailable one.

Secretary Gonzalez also ordered later the automatic review of the resolution of Chief Provincial Prosecutor Bernabe Dusaban by Regional State Prosecutor Domingo Laurea Jr. to probe alleged flaws.

But that appears to have been delayed.

Mejorada also mentioned Gonzalez’s order of withdrawal of the drug raps against Cairoden Abdullah, accused of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

The provincial administrator also claimed that Dusaban scolded policemen every time they filed drug-related cases. He added that the proliferation of murders, rapes and crimes against properties could be attributed to the illegal drug problem.

Tupas cut the P1.7-million subsidy of the province to the provincial prosecutor’s office.

But the province recently also put up a P1-million contingency fund to help wipe out illegal drugs in Iloilo. Gov. Tupas stressed that he would accept no excuses for failure because the province has now addressed the funding.

Police recently complained about the dubious handling of illegal drug cases by the provincial prosecutor’s office.

It’s true that Tupas and company are allied with former Senate President Franklin Drilon. However, what is vital here is that Gonzalez is also an Ilonggo and hence could depend on his provincemates for support. Yet, they are among the first to demand his resignation. That certainly deserved to be studied by the administration.

‘Arte Kalye’

When visiting Bacolod this month, if you wish to see local artists, especially painters, all you have to ask is the direction to Arte Kalye. Art Street or the street of the arts is just beside the Riverside Medical Center. It used to be named San Agustin Extension.

A brainchild of Art Association of Bacolod president Nunelucio Alvarado and his artist friends, it was inaugurated last Sunday with no less than Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Mrs. Josefa Puentevella, and Budot Lizares, AAB founder, as principal guests of honor.

Although primarily intended for only one month, Dr. Cecile Nava said she hopes that Arte Kalye will become a permanent feature of Bacolod. And, Mayor Leonardia said he is recommending to the Sangguniang Panglungsod to rename the street to Arte Kalye.

Well, that’s how a well-intended plan becomes a permanent fixture. And it could become a major attraction of Bacolod.

ADDENDA. Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco said yesterday that the provincial government is allocating P15 million for the food-for-work program for sugar workers during the “dead season.” He also said he has written the National Food Authority to purchase 15,000 bags of rice to be used for the same purpose… Meanwhile, Negros Oriental investors are filing claims with the Securities and Exchange Commission to recover about P90 million in investments in the Pilipino Rural Bank’s Dumaguete branch and the Rural Bank of Bais. Both are under the Legacy Group of Companies, according to lawyer Raymund Mercado.