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.”