21 December 2005
Governor awaits Purisima’s action
By DANNY O. SAGUN
Associate Editor, The Pangasinan Star
LINGAYEN – The provincial police director has yet to submit his written reply to the memorandum of Gov. Victor E. Agbayani about the alleged proliferation of illegal activities in the province to include rampant operation of gambling machines, it was learned Thursday from Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis.
Solis said that he has yet to hear from Sr. Supt. Alan Purisima on the progress, if any, of the police campaign against criminal activities two weeks after the issuance of the memorandum directing the police to institute immediate measures against criminality as well as illegal gambling activities.
His statement virtually confirms allegation by the media that Purisima, unlike his predecessors, has been difficult to reach. It was not immediately known if he has communicated to the governor or the provincial administrator by phone.
Apparently irked by Purisima’s silence and his no-show and inaccessibility to media, the administrator advised the PNP provincial director to be transparent and face the people and the media.
Radio reports said that video gambling machines like hataw and ameneng continue to proliferate in almost every corner of the province, indicating that Purisima and his men have not fully complied with the governor’s order.
Solis confirmed that hataw and ameneng operations continue as monitored by his office. “It’s a cat and mouse affair,” he noted, referring to the transfer of operation of the illegal video games from one place to another in case of raids.
On reports that names of some ranking police officials are being dropped by unscrupulous operators to gain leverage, Solis urged the media and the public to give him names and other details. “See me secretly, give particulars, so we can act fast,” he said in a radio interview.
A radio reporter reportedly overheard an operator from Dagupan City complaining that individuals sent to collect payola or protection money keep pestering him. The name of the provincial director even crops up in such remarks.
Solis however observed that dropping names of influential people is a common practice so that he needs specific reports about such allegations. Complaints from concerned parents and teachers have reached the governor prompting him to issue the directive to Purisima, it was learned.
Robbery-holdup incidents are also on the rise. The suspects have become so ruthless they do not think twice of shooting their victims as shown in the recent hold-up incidents in Binalonan and San Jacinto last Wednesday and similar robberies in the recent past.
Associate Editor, The Pangasinan Star
LINGAYEN – The provincial police director has yet to submit his written reply to the memorandum of Gov. Victor E. Agbayani about the alleged proliferation of illegal activities in the province to include rampant operation of gambling machines, it was learned Thursday from Provincial Administrator Virgilio Solis.
Solis said that he has yet to hear from Sr. Supt. Alan Purisima on the progress, if any, of the police campaign against criminal activities two weeks after the issuance of the memorandum directing the police to institute immediate measures against criminality as well as illegal gambling activities.
His statement virtually confirms allegation by the media that Purisima, unlike his predecessors, has been difficult to reach. It was not immediately known if he has communicated to the governor or the provincial administrator by phone.
Apparently irked by Purisima’s silence and his no-show and inaccessibility to media, the administrator advised the PNP provincial director to be transparent and face the people and the media.
Radio reports said that video gambling machines like hataw and ameneng continue to proliferate in almost every corner of the province, indicating that Purisima and his men have not fully complied with the governor’s order.
Solis confirmed that hataw and ameneng operations continue as monitored by his office. “It’s a cat and mouse affair,” he noted, referring to the transfer of operation of the illegal video games from one place to another in case of raids.
On reports that names of some ranking police officials are being dropped by unscrupulous operators to gain leverage, Solis urged the media and the public to give him names and other details. “See me secretly, give particulars, so we can act fast,” he said in a radio interview.
A radio reporter reportedly overheard an operator from Dagupan City complaining that individuals sent to collect payola or protection money keep pestering him. The name of the provincial director even crops up in such remarks.
Solis however observed that dropping names of influential people is a common practice so that he needs specific reports about such allegations. Complaints from concerned parents and teachers have reached the governor prompting him to issue the directive to Purisima, it was learned.
Robbery-holdup incidents are also on the rise. The suspects have become so ruthless they do not think twice of shooting their victims as shown in the recent hold-up incidents in Binalonan and San Jacinto last Wednesday and similar robberies in the recent past.
