Mission improbable

Observers on both sides of the Duterte surrender to the ICC would have us believe that the ongoing Senate inquiry headed by Senator Imee Marcos is “too little too late.” The pro-FPRRD folks feel it’s pointless since ex-president Duterte is already “behind bars” in The Hague, Netherlands.

The partner of the former president even gave Senator Imee a “No Confidence” vote all the way from The Hague. On the other hand, the anti-PRRD is confident that there is no more turning back until FPRRD is tried and sentenced.

But “In My Opinion,” as certain Congressmen would have us differentiate between opinion and propaganda, Senator Imee Marcos made the right choice in holding the hearings, while certain individuals and government officials miscalculated or underestimated the outcome.

The case against FPRRD at the ICC might not even get to first base because President Bongbong Marcos relied on second rate actors to pull off a Philippine version of “Mission: Impossible.” They did not have a polished script, did not stick to the lines and soon will be blaming it all on the “producers,” given they all claim there was no director.

For starters, the government officials representing the DILG, DOJ, PNP, Interpol, etc. have stumbled over each other’s statements and claims, even to the point of contradicting each other concerning who gave authority or appointed people, or being corrected by teammates.

Several of them have had to retract; they initially opted to no longer participate by virtue of executive privilege. Then they changed their minds, walked into another episode of “putting their foot in mouth,” trapped by their own words and “bailed out” by the Senate President as a courtesy to Malacañang.

The secretary of Justice claimed that their hesitation to participate in the inquiry is for fear of “bullying.” In actuality, Secretary Remulla was probably worried that details of “the operation to surrender FPRRD” would surface and shed light on irregularities, a number of which came out in the hearings.

More than just another “political who done it” live on all media, the hearings confirmed suspicions about premeditation to surrender FPRRD, a conspiracy of sorts and reckless overeagerness of those involved bordering on bragging, and abuse of authority.

It must have been an operation based on “a need-to-know basis” that left a lot of key officials not in the know. As a result, a couple of officials could not support the storyline of the administration and were not willing to be dragged into or made part of a controversy they did not sign up for. As the saying goes, “Every lie opens the door to a lesson you didn’t sign up for.”

Everybody who took part in the “operation” clearly got burned, including Senate President Chiz Escudero, who lost pogi points for bailing out an official who was cited in contempt, and for not signing subpoenas.

But what made the hearings a potential “game changer?”

Among themselves, Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano got vital information, acknowledgement or confirmation regarding the process and lapses in the arrest, transport and surrender of FPRRD to the ICC, and they have all of it not just “on tape” but in the records of the Philippine Senate.

According to the lawyers of FPRRD, one of the items on their agenda would be the legality of the ex-president’s “arrest and transport.” Going all the way back to the statements of PRRD, DOJ, the coverage of the events at the NAIA and Villamor Air Base, the hearings in the Senate have served to validate allegations and made it all official and on public record…for future reference!

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There is no denying that the peace and order situation has gone from bad to “worse than worse.” What I found strange was that a newly promoted and appointed PNP general in charge of anti-kidnapping was removed, but the Chief PNP who should be retired already remains in position.

I don’t know General Rommel Francisco Marbil, and no one has given me any derogatory material in order to single him out. In fact, I liked his initial actions as the new Chief PNP when he started. But if the PNP saw fit to remove a general because of the Anson Que case, isn’t it right and fair for the Chief PNP to step aside?

While I appreciate his efforts to appear positive and confident about peace and order, Gen. Marbil sounds like he is in a state of denial. Almost every day there is news of drugs, shabu in particular, being back on the streets or intercepted by the police. Road rage has now become one of the top three public concerns.

School-based gang wars and homicide among teens worry parents; police personnel being implicated in robbery or assassination attempts of a controversial candidate have people wondering. There is also no denying these because all are culled from police reports, just like the kidnapping of businessman Anson Que and others before him. The number of kidnapping incidents since January shocked people.

Why stay on and risk the possibility of more controversies burning your reputation or tarnishing your record or achievements? Even popes and prime ministers make their exit gracefully.