Centralized dis-service

For a country with 7,100 islands, the biggest curse is when people need to go from one island to another just to get the most basic of services. After spending some 7 years in the province of Palawan, one thing I remember was the lament of many people who would have to do several banca trips and bus trips just to get medical attention, attend hearings or participate in one of many mandatory government sponsored activity especially if you were a public school teacher or health officer.

Clearly the policy makers and bosses operating from Imperial Metro Manila have no idea or appreciation of the inconvenience, disruption and expense that they put people through. Recently I noticed two government agencies doing exactly that: the PNP requiring would-be gun owners to make personal appearance and register at Camp Crame and the LTO requiring new car sales reports and registrations to be conducted only at regional offices and no longer at district or extension offices. I believe the official reason behind all this is to reduce or eliminate fraud, misrepresentation and “fixers.” I, of course support the idea if that is truly the goal and if the said agencies can actually vouch and guarantee the integrity of the process and service.

However, history has taught me that centralization is equal to congestion and corruption. Aside from the added burden placed on applicants in terms of travel, lodging, and disruption from productivity, the facts is centralization brings everyone to one place causing congestion and delays resulting from the volume. I make mention of this because I have known for a fact how in the past certain officials made so much money from the “centralized” processing of documents. One former official at the LTO made a killing by delaying the processing of plates and registration thereby inducing representatives of car manufacturers and dealers to pay extra, as much as P15,000 per vehicle. During that period, dealers and distributors also had to pay “extra” just to get their environmental clearance.

I also remember my contacts telling me of past officials using the “centralized policy” as a means to raise “extra income” to meet their assigned quota to funds administration candidates. While I would not accuse officials of the DOTC/LTO and the PNP of fund raising, it would be wise for officials in Malacañang to consider that the centralization policy could be abused and ultimately backfire on the P-Noy administration. With 2016 on the horizon, suspicion could center on fund raising or that some people maybe jumping at their last chance to earn a small fortune before their lease on public office runs out.

There is also the resentment now being expressed by district and extension office employees of the LTO and the PNP in the form of leaks to the media. Centralization to them is a clear declaration that Imperial Metro Manila does not trust them or finds them incompetent. But what assurance do we have that those at the “central” office are any better or more honest?

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Anyone who watches the news, particularly the “Police Report” segments will notice that certain areas or districts feature a very specialized type of criminal activity that has gone on for a long time. For instance in the high class areas of “The Fort /BGC/ Makati Business District” the specialty crime involves bag-nappers or a group of men who move in pairs or teams three, target mostly foreign women dining in restaurants. I have known of these thieves for at least two years running and my own wife, as well as an Australian tourist, are just some of the many victims of the bag-nappers.

Call it a generalization, but in the Philippines where we have a “National Police” system, I know that if the cops want to catch criminals, they can and they will, IF they want to. BUT if the criminals are pets or are protected by the police, you can howl at the moon and cry a river of tears but no one will ever be caught or arrested. The bag-napper syndicate is ideal because most of the victims are expats, diplomats, diplomats’ wives or tourists. They don’t have time to pursue the matter, they are embarrassed to report being victimized especially within the diplomatic circle, or they simply don’t believe that the Philippine National Police has the integrity or competence to stop a syndicate that tarnishes the image of the country.

Remember the Ativan gang, the Kuratong Baleleng gang, and other such gangs? Only after people got hurt and if the Chief PNP himself was embarrassed or warned by Malacañang, did the PNP finally take action? Why? was it because these gangs were pets and protected by certain PNP officials and politicians? That is what a retired police general admitted to me!

So if Quezon City becomes the carnapping capital, if a district in QC has become notorious for “basag kotse gang,” if street punks jump cars and vans on C5-Taguig, if a place in Binondo or Addition Hills becomes notorious for riding in tandem robbers for years, it is not because they are good at eluding the police, it is because some police units or precincts are great at eluding and evading, maybe even protecting the criminals. Why else do these criminals remain in business for years while the police officials who are suppose to stop them remain in their posts. If PNP Chief Alan Purisima really knows what he’s doing and sincerely wants to reduce crime in the country, he should start by going after his men, the district and precinct commanders where these gangs, syndicates and specialists operate unopposed for many years!

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