The news about CIDG arresting its own Provincial Chief and six other civilian agents in Pampanga is sending goose bumps among peaceful and law abiding citizens. On the other hand, though, it is also showing that the Police is cleansing its ranks of shenanigans. With the recent essays on narco-politics creeping into our society with the involvement of government officials, law enforcers and the media in the illegal drug trade, the actual arrest of a law enforcer with the damning evidence should be enough for people to feel panicky about the situation. If it has actually happened in Pampanga that a CIDG provincial chief is involved in the reselling of previously seized shabu from legal anti-drug operations by the police, it could be happening anywhere in the country including Bohol. This possibility is bolstered by the admissionof the PDEA officer-in-charge in Bohol during the last meeting of the PPOC that she received reports, although still unverified, about officials and law enforcers being involved in the illegal drug trade. That news about Police Chief Inspector Bienvenido Reydado of CIDG Pampanga is a saddening news about the institution that is already saddled with so many problems about breach of discipline and criminal acts by its members. The credibility of the PNP, and particularly the CIDG, has dipped very low. Reydado's arrest together with his civilian accomplishes who included a No. 2 most wanted in Naic, Cavite has confirmed what used to be just unfounded fears of the citizens.

When the lawenforcers themselves become the criminals or allies of the criminals, that is when democracy,or any sane society, starts to be dissolved. Who can the citizens now trust in the campaign against all forms of criminality? To whom will they report knowing that the person posing as authority may himself or herself be the criminal or the protector of criminals? The well-meaning citizen will just be put into great danger. PNP Bohol must also show that it is cleansing its own ranks or information coming from the citizens will be dwindling and their cooperation will slump to a halt. Given the choice, I'd rather live under a government run by the communists than under a democracy controlled by narco-politics. Incidentally, yesterday was International Women's Day. The United Nation has assigned it the theme: Equality for Women is Progress for All. The women organization here in Bohol had scheduled whistle caravans and rallies in chosen municipalities to generate awareness for the various issues women raise and face today. It was also a day to reflect on the progress made to the call for change and to celebrate acts of courage by ordinary women who played extraordinary role in our communities and country. In the Philippines, the theme of yesterday's celebration was “Juana, ang tatag mo ay tatag natin tungo sa pagbangon at pagsulong.”

It was also a day to review how gender equality, women empowerment and eradication of poverty are essentials to economic and social development of people. Another activity in the province to show support for the 106th International Women's Day yesterday was the distribution of Entitlement Cards (ECs) to the project affected families (PAFs) by the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project (NBACSEPP) in Panglao. The EC would entitle the holder to either 250 sq.m. lot only, or 250 sq.m. lot with house built by the provincial government of Bohol, or a 100 sq.m. lot also with house.The beneficiaries have options to amortize the house at a fix interest of 6% for 10 to 30 years. Gov. Edgar M. Chatto distributed the ECs right at the 2-hectare resettlement site in Brgy. Tawala. Forty-four families have initially received their ECs. The resettlement project is for the house-affected families who will be displaced by the construction of the airport starting July or September this year. The project is also a demonstration of the government's care for women by providing them the displaced families with shelter they can move to and live safely, and by capacitating them with new skills they can use for their loss of livelihood as a result of the project. Gov. Chatto said the houses would be completed by April or May in time for the entitled owner to transfer to before the actual construction of the airport runway and terminal starts.