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RESTORING HONOR AND DECENCY IN THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF SEN. JINGGOY E. ESTRADA, SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES, JANUARY 17, 2005  Posted: August 6th, 2008 @ 12:23am MR. PRESIDENT, DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES OF THIS AUGUST BODY: WITH YOUR KIND INDULGENCE, I RISE AGAIN TODAY ON A MATTER OF PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE PRIVILEGE. LAST SATURDAY, MY FATHER, PRESIDENT JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA, RETURNED TO THE PHILIPPINES AFTER A SUCCESSFUL KNEE SURGERY IN HONG KONG. CONTRARY TO THE SPECULATIONS AND MALICIOUS INSINUATIONS OF FLIGHT FROM JUSTICE MADE BY NOISY CRITICS AND PUBLICITY-HUNGRY DETRACTORS, PRESIDENT ESTRADA RETURNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS PROMISE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDER OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN. THE EERIE SILENCE OF THESE CRITICS IS NOW DEAFENING, AND EVEN DISGUSTING, AT THE VERY LEAST. NOONG PAALIS PA LAMANG ANG PANGULONG ESTRADA, KUNG ANO-ANO ANG IDINADAKDAK SA MEDIA. NGUNI’T NG NAGBALIK, NI-HA, NI-HO, WALA KANG MARINIG NGAYON. KAYA ANG SABI NG AMA KO, HUWAG NA NATING PATULAN ANG MGA KULANG SA PANSIN. WE REGRET TO DISAPPOINT THEM, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THEY CAN LEARN PERHAPS A VALUABLE LESSON IN THE MEANING OF HONOR AND INTEGRITY. THESE ARE VALUES THAT THEY HAVE LONG FORGOTTEN. ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER AND MY FAMILY, I AGAIN EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE AND SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE SANDIGANBAYAN, TO ALL OF YOU AND TO ALL WELL-MEANING FRIENDS, WHO SUPPORTED MY FATHER’S MEDICAL TREATMENT ABROAD. MANY OF YOU, MANY OF OUR PEOPLE EXTENDED UNCONDITIONAL AND UNCOMPROMISING SUPPORT FOR MY FATHER, WITHOUT A SHRED OF DOUBT, WITHOUT ANY SENSE OF SCEPTICISM OR DISTRUST ON HIS INTENTION TO RETURN. FOR THIS, WE THANK YOU ALL. MR. PRESIDENT, HAVING SAID THESE, I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS AUGUST CHAMBER THE APPARENT OVER KILL THAT ATTENDED THE PNP‘S PREPARATIONS FOR PRESIDENT ESTRADA’S ARRIVAL LAST SATURDAY. NEWSPAPER REPORTS SUGGESTED THAT SOME 15,000 POLICE OFFICERS WERE DEPLOYED LAST SATURDAY TO ALLEGEDLY SECURE PRESIDENT ESTRADA, FROM WHOM AND FROM WHAT, I DO NOT KNOW. STORIES OF ATTEMPTS ON HIS LIFE AND OTHER ACCOUNTS OF DESTABILIZATION PLOTS WERE CIRCULATED, WHICH, AS YOU WILL REMEMBER, WE HAVE TO DENY VEHEMENTLY, AGAIN AND AGAIN. I ASSURE YOU, PRESIDENT ESTRADA CAN WALK OUR STREETS WITHOUT FEAR BECAUSE HE HAS DONE NO CRIME OR HARM AGAINST OUR PEOPLE. IF THERE IS ANY THREAT ON HIS LIFE, IT MUST COME FROM PARANOID PERSONS CLINGING DESPERATELY TO POWER AND FEARFUL OF THE RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE AND POWER OF OUR PEOPLE. PRESIDENT ESTRADA DOES NEED TO BE BARRICADED BY ELECTRIFIED FENCES OR CONTAINERIZED VANS TO BE PROTECTED AND SECURED. INSTEAD, HE CAN FREELY BE ONE WITH OUR PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THE POOR. I RISE ALSO TODAY ON A MATTER INVOLVING THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF OUR PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, POLICE DIRECTOR-GENERAL EDGARDO BATALLA AGLIPAY. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY WELL-MEANING FRIENDS TO REFRAIN FROM OFFENDING THIS VERY POWERFUL POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE HE CAN MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR MY FATHER WHO IS NOW IN DETENTION. BUT AT THE RISK OF REPRISALS AGAINST MY FATHER, I BRING THIS MATTER TO YOUR ATTENTION AND THAT OF OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS TO EXPOSE THE INSULTING BEHAVIOR AND CONTEMPTUOUS ATTITUDE OF THE HIGHEST RANKING POLICE OFFICER OF THE COUNTRY. MAARING LALO NILANG HIHIGPITAN AT PAHIHIRAPAN SI PANGULONG ESTRADA SA KANYANG KULUNGAN, PERO ITO AY ISANG SAGRADONG TUNGKULIN PARA SA AKIN. LAST FRIDAY, MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE OUR DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE HAD UNILATERALLY BARRED RELATIVES AND WELL-WISHERS FROM ENTERING OUR REST HOUSE IN TANAY, RIZAL. THESE RELATIVES AND FRIENDS SIMPLY WANTED TO WELCOME PRESIDENT ESTRADA. THE PNP OFFICERS DEPLOYED IN THE TANAY REST HOUSE EXPLAINED THAT THEY WERE UNDER STRICT ORDERS TO REFUSE ENTRY TO VISITORS AND RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE COMPOUND. THIS ARBITRARY BAN WAS NOT RELAYED OR CONVEYED TO US AT ALL. CONCERNED THAT THIS IS JUST A MISCOMMUNICATION, I CONTACTED THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, GEN. EDGARDO AGLIPAY BY TELEPHONE AND POLITELY SOUGHT A CLARIFICATION ON THIS POLICY. THIS REPRESENTATION ALSO CALLED GENERAL AGLIPLAY TO INFORM HIM OF THE LIST OF PERSONS WHO WERE TO MEET MY FATHER AT THE AIRPORT. GEN. AGLIPAY’S REPLY WAS EVASIVE, VAGUE, AGITATED, AND DOWNRIGHT RUDE. HE ADDRESSED THAT HE WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO ENTER THE TANAY REST HOUSE WHICH, I MUST STRESS, REMAINS A PRIVATE PROPERTY DESPITE ITS BEING MY FATHER’S DETENTION CENTER. WHEN ASKED WHY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WERE BEING BARRED NOT ONLY AT THE AIRPORT BUT ALSO IN TANAY, GENERAL AGLIPAY ARROGANTLY TOLD THIS REPRESENTATION THAT IT IS HE WHO MAKES THE DECISION - AND THEN PROCEEDED TO SUGGEST THAT I MUST BEG FOR HIM TO CHANGE THIS DECISION. AT THIS POINT, GENERAL AGLIPAY WAS SPEAKING ON TOP OF HIS VOICE, AS IF HE WAS DRESSING DOWN A SUBORDINATE. HE FURTHRE SAID THAT THE SITUATION WAS TENSE AND HE WILL DECIDE THE NEXT DAY, ON THE DAY OF OUR ARRIVAL, WHETHER GUESTS CAN BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE REST HOUSE. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT FOOD PREPARATIONS HAD TO BE MADE FOR THE GUESTS, HE SHOUTED, “I TOLD YOU I WILL DECIDE TOMORROW!” THEN HE BANGED THE PHONE ON ME. OBVIOUSLY, THE ISSUE IS A MATTER OF DISCRETION ON THE PART OF GEN. AGLIPAY, NOT OF LAW, OF GOVERNMENT POLICY OR OF PROCEDURE. IT APPEARS THAT GEN. AGLIPAY IS ON A POWER AND EGO TRIP AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. DIRECTOR-GENERAL AGLIPAY APPEARS TO HAVE THE MISCONCEPTION THAT, AS HE HOLD SA GUN, VAN RIDE ROUGHSHOD ON THE RIGHTS NOT JUST OF THE PEOPLE, BUT EVEN DULY ELECTED LEADERS OF THE REPUBLIC. SINASABI PA NITONG AGLIPAY NA ITO DURING ONE OF HID INTERVIEWS: “I WILL BE ASSASSINATED TOGETHER WITH PRESIDENT ESTRADA IF PRESIDENT ESTRADA WILL BE ASSASSINATED.” SINUNGALING KA! WHEN WE STEPPED DOWN FROM THE AIRPLANE, I DID NOT SEE THE SHADOW OF GENERAL AGLIPAY. I ONLY SAW HIM AFTER WE PASSED THE TUBE, WHEN THE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA WERE CLICKING THEIR CAMERAS. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME I SAW HIM. HE NEVER WENT CLOSE TO THE PRESIDENT. HOW CAN HE BE ASSASSINATED TOGETHER WITH PRESIDENT ESTRADA. ANG HIRAP NITO, PANAY PA-MEDIA SIYA NANG PA-MEDIA. IBA IYONG SINASABI NIYA SA GINAGAWA NIYA. MR. PRESIDENT, I EXPRESS DISMAY OVER THIS BOORISH AND DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR SO UNBECOMING OF AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, SO UNCALLED FOR, COMING FROM A RANKING OFFICIAL OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE. IF HE CANNOT RESPECT MY PERSON, THEN I BELIEVE HE SHOULD AT LEAST RESPECT THE OFFICE I REPRESENT, THE SENATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. I AM DEEPLY CONVINCED THAT ANY ASSAULT OR DISRESPECT ON ANY MEMBER OF THIS CHAMBER, IS AN ASSAULT AND DISRESPECT ON THE SENATE AS AN INSTITUTION ITSELF. NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS. GINOONG PANGULO, BILANG SENADOR NA IBINOTO NG SAMBAYANANG PILIPINO, PALAGAY KO PO NAMAN AY MAY KARAPATAN AKO NG KAUNTING RESPETO MULA SA ISANG MATAAS NA PINUNO NG ATING PULISYA. KUNG GANITO PO ANG TRATO NI GENERAL AGLIPAY SA ISANG MAMBABATAS NA KATULAD KO, ANO PA KAYA ANG MAGIGING TRATO NIYA SA MGA KARANIWANG MAMAMAYAN? LAST SATURDAY, BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL FROM HONG KONG, AT AROUND NOON, THE PNP CONTINUED TO REFUSE ENTRY TO WELL-WISHERS IN THE REST HOUSE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO WELCOME PRESIDENT ESTRADA WERE MADE TO WAIT OUTSIDE IN THE HEAT OF THE SUN, HUNGRY, TIRED AND MISERABLE. IF NOT FOR THE INTERVENTION OF OUR DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE, SENATOR ENRILE, OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO ENTER. GINOONG PANGULO, GANITO NA NGA BA ANG MGA PULIS NATIN NGAYON? ABUSADO, AROGANTE, WALANG RESPETO SA MAMAMAYAN? ANG HALIMBAWA BANG NAKIKITA NILA AY ANG KANILANG HEPE NA SI GEN. AGLIPAY KAYA SILA GANITO NGAYON? RECENTLY, THE PNP HAS BEEN PERCEIVED TO BE AMONG THE MOST CORRUPT INSTITUTION, IN THE PHILIPPINES. WITH GEN. AGLIPAY AT THE HELM OF LEADERSHIP, IT MAY AS WELL ALSO BECOME THE MOST ARROGANT, THE MOST ABUSIVE, AND THE MOST INSENSITIVE OFFICE IN THIS COUNTRY. SLOPPY INTELLIGENCE, INEPT AND INCOMPETENT RESPONSE TO CRIME, INDISCRIMINATE SHOOTING, EXTORTION, INVOLVEMENT IN KIDNAPPING AND ROBBERY-HOLD-UP, HULIDAP, KOTONG, ABUSE OF POWER – THESE HAVE NOW BECOME THE HALLMARKS AND PERCEPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PNP. THE SHOOTING IN KALIBO YESTERDAY, REFLECTS THE MINDSET OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS. OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BECOME PRONE TO VIOLENCE AND TO BULLYING, AND THEIR EXAMPLE IS THEIR CHIEF. GENERAL AGLIPAY MUST ASSUME ACCOUNTABILITY ON THIS MATTER, UNDER COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY. I AM DISTRESSED HOWEVER THAT THE NUMEROUS UPRIGHT AND HONORABLE POLICE OFFICERS IN OUR POLICE FORCE ARE GIVEN A BAD IMAGE BY A FEW BUT INFLUENTIAL AND POWERFUL BAD EGGS HEADED BY THE LIKES OF GEN. AGLIPAY. THEY SHOULD BE FLUSHED OUT AND BANISHED FROM THE INSTITUTION SO THAT IT MAY RECOVER ITS RESPECT, ITS SENSE OF DECENCY, ITS INTEGRITY, ITS DIGNITY. WE MUST RESTORE THE HONOR AND GLORY OF THE PNP THAT IT MAY TRULY BECOME THE PROTECTOR AND SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF A PRIVILEGED ELITE. IF THERE IS ANY HONOR AT ALL LEFT IN HIM, GENERAL AGLIPAY MUST DO THE MOST HONORABLE THING NOW. HE MUST RESIGN! GEN. AGALIPAY IS AN INSULT TO THE CONSITUTION, TO THE LAW, TO OUR DEMOCRATIC FRAMEWORK, AND TO THE UNIFORM AND THE INSTITUTION HE NOW REPRESENTS. AND IN THIS REGARD, I CALL FOR THE RESIGNATION OF GENERAL AGLIPAY THAT HE MAY GIVE WAY TO OTHER DESERVING AND COMPETENT POLICE OFFICERS TO LEAD AND REFORM THE PNP, TO RESTORE ITS DIGNITY AND TO MAKE IT A TRULY RESPECTED INSTITUTION. GEN. AGLIPAY MUST NOT STAY ANY DAY LONGER IN OFFICE FOR HE HAS LOST HIS SENSE OF RESPECT AND HIS CREDIBILITY. THANK YOU AND GOOD DAY. |
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Copyright © 2008 Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
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