I’M referring to calls for Congress to investigate the two major anti-narcotics operations in Pampanga which resulted in the seizure of nearly P4.9 billion worth of shabu, the first on August 25 in Mabalacat City and the latest this week in Mexico City.

Pampanga Representative Aurelio ‘Dong’ Gonzales said he will file a resolution calling for a legislative inquiry to unmask those behind the foiled shipment of 530 kilograms of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ worth P3.6 billion which he said highlights the gravity of the illegal drug problem in the country. The National Bureau of Investigation was behind the two huge anti-drug accomplishments.

Congress however should also look into claims that the approximately 200 kilos of shabu worth P1.3 billion which was reported by some NBI agents to have been found inside an abandoned red Toyota Avanza with plate no. ZGS-463 in a parking lot of a shopping mall in Barangay Camachiles in Mabalacat City have turned out to be not real drugs.

The NBI must explain what has happened to their investigation into that Mabalacat City drug haul amid their initial effort to determine the registered owner of the wagon which yielded the supposed drugs. First, where are those drugs now? Second, are they ready for destruction after a complete test? Third, were arrests made in connection with that August 25 seizure?

I also fully agree with DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla that there is a need to keep a very close watch on Subic Port after the 530 kilograms of shabu which supposedly passed thru the said port ended up in a warehouse in Pampanga. The drugs had Thai markings and were mixed with chicharon” and dog food when they were discovered inside the warehouse of Empire 999 Realty Corporation in Purok 5, Barangay San Jose Malino in Mexico City.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the PNP, the Armed Forces and the Bureau of Customs’ intelligence units should all join the NBI in unmasking the truth behind these two major drug hauls and filing appropriate criminal charges against the smugglers and the people including those in the government who could have helped them.

COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY IN OTS AND ALL OTHER GOV’T AGENCIES

I also fully support House Speaker Martin Romualdez when he cited the principle of command responsibility as he demanded the resignation of Office of Transportation Security chief Ma’o Aplasca for his failure to stop repeated ‘nefarious activities’ by security personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

I also suggest that all other government agencies follow the PNP leadership’s move to give full premium on command responsibility when it comes to going after its officials found to have been remiss in their duties as immediate supervisors of their erring personnel.

It’s also high time for the PBBM administration to send the powerful message that government officials who fail to do their job will be booted out to help rebuild public trust and restore integrity in government service. The PNP leadership has already been doing that.

For the record, Aplasca, a member of PMA ‘Hinirang’ Class of 1987 became the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives shortly after Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco took his oath of office as House Speaker on October 2020 after his allies from different parties joined forces and booted out his rival, then Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

The resigned OTS chief who tried his luck to become a party-list representative in 2022 but failed also used to be a Calabarzon police director who eventually became the PNP Director for Operations, thus he knows what the principle of command responsibility is.

This week, he tendered his resignation in the wake of several reported cases of theft at the NAIA followed by a Molotov bomb explosion at the NAIA Terminal 3 parking area which damaged three parked vehicles.

Aplasca said that ‘in view of the pronouncement of Congressman Romualdez that he will personally block the approval of the budget of OTS and DOTr, I have come to this decision to officially submit my courtesy resignation for the consideration of SOTr and the President,” said the retired 2-star general.

Speaker Romualdez had aired his frustration over Aplasca in the wake of the latest incident at the NAIA wherein a female OTS security scanner was accused of ‘swallowing’ three US$100 bills she allegedly took from a departing tourist.

The House leader said the OTS chief should submit his courtesy resignation under the principle of command responsibility, to make way for full revamp at the airport security office.

“The OTS chief is on strike three. We are already fed up with these reports of stealing and other acts of wrongdoing at the airport, for which OTS officials and their DOTr (Department of Transportation) supervisors are ultimately responsible. A top-to-bottom overhaul is needed,” he said.

“We cannot let these atrocious activities and other acts of misconduct at the airport to continue to take place. It’s bad for the country and the economy,” Speaker Romualdez added.

He also pointed out that a foreigner, whether he is a tourist or a potential investor, gets his first exposure to the Philippines and its people when he encounters a government employee who processes him at the port of entry.

“An ugly incident will certainly leave a discouraging and lasting impression. This is the reason why we should deploy the finest personnel at ports of entry,” the Leyte representative explained.

In March this year, the House speaker had already recommended a complete revamp of the OTS when money was stolen from a Thai tourist at NAIA. He even suggested that the DOTr replace the entire OTS workforce and rehire only those who would pass a strict vetting process based on their honesty, efficiency, and integrity.

Following his call, OTS and responsible DOTr officials committed to undertake sweeping reforms. “What has happened to those commitments? Where are the reforms?”

Romualdez asked even as he called on DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista to closely watch his own backyard.

“Every now and then, we hear of nefarious activities, aviation glitches, power equipment malfunctions and disruptions, and similar nasty things taking place at the airport. There may be people sabotaging him,” Speaker Romualdez said.