Pimentel dismayed at law enforcers’ failure to catch Reyes
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Tuesday gave the law enforcement agencies a dressing down for their failure to go after criminals in this country.
“I have long been disappointed actually with our law enforcement not because they could not arrest Reyes but because they could not also arrest the assassins in this country,” Pimentel said over the phone, referring to former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, who is wanted for the murder of environmentalist-broadcaster Gerry Ortega on January 24, 2011.
“Meron ng CCTV, hindi naman nahuhuli. Ang dami nating problema sa law enforcements (There are CCTV but we could not arrest them . We have a lot of problems in our law enforcements),” said the senator.
The failure to arrest Reyes and other wanted criminals in this country, Pimentel said, should not be blamed on the lack of budgetary support but on the law enforcers’ lack of training and will power.
“Kulang sa training. Kulang sa intelligence work. Kulang sa utak. Kulang sa will power. Kulang sa courage (They lack training. Lacking in intelligence work. Lacking in brain. Lacking in will power. Lacking in courage),” Pimentel said.
While the law enforcers may not have enough personnel to go after criminals, Pimentel said they also probably lack the will to arrest prominent personalities like Reyes and retired Major General Jovito Palparan, who has also been in hiding since a warrant of arrest was issued against him in connection with the disappearance of two activists six years ago.
“They probably lack the will to do it. Precisely, these are influential people that they probably don’t want to catch,” the senator said.
Another factor why the authorities could not arrest these fugitives, he said, was the lack of intelligence.
“They are lacking in intelligence work although they have a big intelligence fund. Actually, the problem is in intelligence, not really the fund,” he said.
But Senator Gringo Honasan came to the defense of law enforcement agencies, saying the blame should not fall on them.
“The capability of the national police is a consequence of our priorities… We are lacking in everything, lacking probably in direction. But we can’t blame the police. We can’t even blame ourselves, “ Honasan said in a separate phone interview.
Even in the United States, he said, there are criminals who are in the most wanted list for 20 years now.
Besides, Hoansan said, the authorities here were probably having difficulties arresting Reyes and Palparan because unlike ordinary citizens, the two have their own supporters who are probably helping them evade the arrest.
“I’m sure being governor or former governor, he (Reyes) has his own base of supporters,” he said, “I’m sure there are people who are helping them, more people (helping them) than ordinary citizens.”
