Ex-Usec. Puno: The tree of knowledge?

By Ed Javier / Firebrand

POLITICAL pundits are having a field day speculating on the various reasons why it appears former Interior Undersecretary Rico Escalona Puno has Malacañang wrapped around his little finger.

Of late, President Aquino’s former “eyes and ears” at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) who has said that he “will take a bullet” for his shooting buddy, has figured in a string of lurid controversies that has compromised this administration’s so-called daang matuwid policy.

These include Puno’s “unauthorized” attempt to enter the condominium unit of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo the day after the latter’s plane crashed off the coast of Masbate; Puno’s alleged role in the controversial purchase of high-powered firearms for the Philippine National Police (PNP); and his alleged involvement in the illegal-numbers game, jueteng.

The President virtually “absolved” Puno of any impropriety in the first issue by declaring that it was he who ordered him to secure sensitive documents at Robredo’s office pertaining to an ongoing investigation over the alleged overprice of guns for the PNP.

An overzealous Puno explained that he decided to also pay a visit to Robredo’s condo because he had “heard” there were other important documents there. According to him, “prudence dictates” that he also secure those papers.

Something is definitely not right with this picture. If reports are to be believed, it was Puno himself who was being investigated by Secretary Robredo in connection with the firearms deal. It appears Puno was sabotaging the investigation by safekeeping documents that could link him to the whole affair.

It was also reported that Puno had gone to Israel. He said he merely wanted to visit Tel Aviv, tour Jerusalem and take a dip in the Dead Sea. He was with his wife, two children and other immediate relatives

Really? How convenient. Does he really think people will swallow the excuse that he had to satisfy his itch to travel by venturing into one of foremost gun capitals in the world hook, line and sinker? Puno has to credit us political observers with a little bit more brains.

Many are also mystified at the apparent ability of a mere government undersecretary to summon the vast powers of the Palace to allegedly compel members of the Senate not to bother attending the hearing called by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to shed light on the issues hounding ex-Undersecretary Puno.

Does Puno really have that much influence over the highest office in the land? There are reports that another close presidential crony, Agriculture Secretary Procy Alcala, has said Puno is welcome to join his department as “Undersecretary for Livestock.” If this is true, then appointing this official tainted by various charges of corruption to another government office is indeed a lot of bull.

And not to forget, of course, the widespread speculation that Puno is allegedly involved in jueteng. Media reports in the past linked him to gambling lords all over the country.

Sen. Ping Lacson has declared that jueteng rakes in a whopping P50 million a day. The money is subdivided among local government officials and local police. Who knows how high up our national government offices are “benefited” by these jueteng payoffs?

Is Puno also on the take? Your guess is as good as mine.

The President also announced yesterday that the Small Town Lottery (STL) under the auspices of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is on its way out. It will be replaced by a new numbers game that would be to the advantage of the government and the people in host communities.

Outspoken Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz countered that the gambling lords in various provinces will just use the same organization and hierarchy similar to jueteng. He maintains that the new numbers game fails to address the issues and problems associated with the failure of STL.

As it is right now, jueteng remains the scourge of our society. The collection from this illegal-numbers game greases the palms of corrupt government officials and police. It has to be stopped, but not without the iron hand and political will of those at the top echelons of power.

The perception is that the President through his trusted minions has failed in the battle against jueteng. It appears that Puno, as the former head of the national police force under the DILG, is the repository of knowledge and information about jueteng. It appears he knows too much about its operations, which has strengthened under this administration.

The Palace has to disengage from former Interior Undersecretary Puno. It has to cut down this tree, so to speak. Otherwise, just like the tree of knowledge in the Bible—which led to the downfall of Adam and Eve—this crony much beloved by the President might just lead to the demise of daang matuwid.