New government post for Gamboa opposed

FORMER Biliran representative and election system reformist, Atty. Glenn Chong, is opposed to giving retired Philippine National Police director general, Archie Gamboa, another position in government, even as President Duterte’s choice of P/Lt. General Camilo Cascolan as his replacement have generated dismay among most Filipinos.

In a message to Pinoy Exposé, Chong said Gamboa, a lawyer like him, is “not deserving” of any more position in government, particularly as the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

It was Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), who hinted that Gamboa would still have another government position.

Reading his message to Gamboa and other police officials last September 2, 2020, the day Gamboa turned over the top PNP post to Cascolan, Año said Gamboa would have a “very short retirement” as another government position is being considered for him.

Rumor immediately spread that Gamboa, being a lawyer, would be appointed to the top NBI post,  which is now under Atty. Eric Distor as “OIC” (officer-in-charge).

But Chong insisted that Gamboa is not only “not deserving” to get the NBI post but would also be a “very bad choice” by Pres. Duterte.

About a week before his retirement, Chong had sued Gamboa for criminal and administrative offenses in connection with the death of his friend and aide, Richard Santillan, last December 2018, in the hands of policemen.

Chong had accused Gamboa of “obstruction of justice” for the latter’s alleged refusal to hand over material evidence related to Santillan’s brutal murder despite repeated request.

Similarly, Gamboa is being taken to task by the National Press Club (NPC) for refusing to comment on the Club’s request for information on the whereabouts of two policemen tagged in the murder of Dumaguete broadcaster, Rex Cornelio Pepino last May 5, 2020.

Gamboa and National Capital Region Police (NCR) police director, P/MGen. Debold Sinas were also assailed by the media for giving “VIP treatment” to one of the suspects, P/MSgt. Reuel Divinagracia Pinero, by allowing the use of the PNP helicopter in fetching him from Negros island for his “new assignment” at Sinas’ office.

The NPC said the refusal of Gamboa and Sinas to hand over Pinero and his colleague, Melvin Bulandres, to investigators can be seen as “obstruction of justice” and the VIP treatment to Pinero, “unprecedented” in the history of the PNP.

As for the appointment of Cascolan, most Filipinos vent their dismay on Pres. Duterte’s decision on social media, with some pointing out that his ascension revealed Pres. Duterte as not actually being serious in his war against corruption and illegal drugs.

Most netizens cannot believe that Pres. Duterte is not aware of Cascolan’s record, especially while he was the chief of police of Taguig City, between 2008 to 2010.

“Is the President really serious in his war of drugs or is it just a joke,” they asked.

As he himself hinted, Cascolan, set to retire in two months’ time in November, lobbied for the top PNP post.

Last September 1, 2020, a day before he assumed as Chief PNP, Cascolan publicly thanked Davao City mayor, Sarah Duterte, Pres. Duterte and Sen. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go, leaving out Sec. Año.