Opposition lawmakers on Saturday warned President Benigno Simeon Aquino III not to appoint a new National Police chief coming from his ‘KKK’ circle.
The warning came from congressmen Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna and Jonathan de la Cruz of the House independent bloc led by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Zarate, a member of the Makabayan group, said the appointment of a new PNP chief who is a member of the President’s KKK would only worsen the creeping demoralization among the ranks in the PNP.
“It is a wishful thinking for [President Aquino] to depart from his KKK trademark of his Daang Matuwid in the appointment of the new CPNP. Being ‘manhid’ (insensitive) to the real sentiments of the people, he will probably just appoint another buddy,” Zarate said.
Zarate also berated the President who popularized the ‘KKK’ when choosing appointees to his Cabinet and other government agencies.
“This KKK brings nothing but ‘kapalpakan’, ‘kapahamakan’, katiwalian at kawalang pananagutan,” Zarate said.
Suspended PNP Director General Alan Purisima, a known long-time presidential buddy, tendered his resignation last Thursday following reports he was responsible for the Mamasapano operation despite his suspension on corruption charges.
President Aquino confirmed Friday the resignation of Purisima, and that he accepted it.
Lawmakers said it is time the President should appoint a permanent head of the PNP, but the appointee must be someone chosen on the basis of track record and with firm command responsibility, and not because of being the President’s close friend or a shooting buddy.
De la Cruz said that “all positions, especially sensitive ones such as PNP chief, should really be made on the merit but trust and confidence of the appointing power is given.”
But a Palace ally, House Deputy Majority Leader Bolet Banal defended the President’s manner of choosing his people.
“I honestly think that the ‘kabarkada, kabarilan at kaklase’ tag is a tired, unfair assessment of how the Aquino administration chooses people in government. It seems futile,” Banal said.
Banal also defended some of the President’s men whom he said have made a lot of sacrifice “for the greater good of the Filipino people.”
“I would like to ask critics and bashers to revisit the credentials of Secretaries Mar Roxas [Interior and Local Government] Jun Abaya [Transportation], Rogelio Singson [Public Works], Jose Almendras [Cabinet], Kim Henares [Internal Revenue], Bro. Armin Luistro [Education], Dinky Soliman [Social Welfare], Gen. Gregoria Catapang [AFP] and the other honorable men and women in our present government who are making personal sacrifices and doing their best for our country,” Banal said.