Skip to content

Versoza’s DILG chief dream dashed?

Versoza
Despite the Euro-generals scandal at the beginning of his term as chief of the Philippine National Police two years ago, Police Chief Jesus Versoza has been lucky and even re-invented himself from a Mike Arroyo man to Noynoy Aquino ally in the last May election.

Aquino confirms VERA Files story that he had differences with Robredo.

“There are various reasons kung bakit acting. In the case of Jesse, we had some differences during the campaign as to style. We want to make sure we can really work with each other well. It does no good to get him through the whole process of the CA only at the end of the day to find out that there might be difficulties in our working style, among others, our core philosophy, so we did agree na acting na muna,” Aquino said.

“May evaluation period, siguro check ang working style, after two months sigurado na tayo, we still have certain things discussed,” he added. “Dadalawang buwan pa lang kami nagkakasubukan kung talaga nga bang kaya naming mag-mesh.”

Click here: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/07/10/aquino-admits-differences-robredo

Talk in the power circles even said Versoza was slated to be the next secretary of interior and local government after Jesse Robredo has been eased out of the politically strategic department. That’s the reason why as early as last month he was sharing to media his thoughts about going to civilian life earlier than his December official retirement date.

VERA Files reported Monday that Robredo’s designation is “acting” and Malacañang is not submitting his appointment for confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. Sources said President Aquino’s comfort level with the Ramon Magsaysay awardee for public service is somewhat uneasy and he is not expected to stay long at the DILG.

Looks like the Aug. 23 hostage debacle may have derailed Versoza’s post- PNP career. He has announced that he would be pushing his earlier retirement Sept. 15 but taking over the DILG head position is another matter. It would not look good to have a chief who abandoned the command post (did he even set up a command post?) while a crisis was ongoing.

As he himself related before the committee investigating the hostage fiasco, he left Manila for Cagayan de Oro at about 3 p.m. of August 23 even when the hostage situation was still unresolved.

Meanwhile, civil society groups are rallying behind Robredo. In a statement signed by 28 former cabinet members, academicians, and leaders of concerned citizens groups, they said it is “unjust” to blame Robredo for the Aug 28 tragedy because he was deprived of supervision over the police force.

Their statement:”What else can we do to support a reformist like Secretary Jesse M. Robredo? Our words cannot even describe with depth and alacrity what he has done and what he can do to re-institute good governance especially in local governments. He has started giving the public full information on the DILG’s budget and its memoranda by posting them on the web. He followed this up with a directive to all Local Chief Executives for full public disclosure of their financial transactions. He initiated partnerships with civil society and the different Leagues to promote participatory governance and accountability of local officials to their communities.

“From his interviews, it is clear that the request of Secretary Robredo is quite simple: that he be given the opportunity to practice what he advocates, i.e. He should be held accountable for his authority and responsibilities.

“The process through which our society deals with anger and grief is by finding someone to blame. Others have been quick to lay the blame on the Office of the DILG Secretary. By tradition, he is in-charge of the police. But clearly, as has been written, observed, and discussed over the media, this was not the case with Secretary Robredo. He has not been given responsibility over the police. It is unjust to make him responsible for something which he was not given authority over.

“We stand one with our government in acknowledging our failures and in saying how deeply sorry we are for the painful loss of lives.

“We pledge our support to the President and to the Cabinet, especially Secretary Robredo as they strive to do their best to move our country forward.”

Signatories include former Planning Secretary Solita Monsod,former Agrarian Reform Secretary Ernesto Garilao, former Environment Secretary Elisea Gozun,former Undersecretary Milwida Guevarra, former Environment Secretary Antonio la Viña;

Carmencita Abella, president of the RM Magsaysay Awards Foundation, Yasmin Busran-Lao, founder of Al-Mujadillah Development Foundation, Grace Padaca, former Isabela governor.

But there are those who find awkward Robredo’s role in the committee investigating the debacle and believe that he has become a “ deadweight” to the Aquino administration.

Blogger Tongue-twisted said, “(Robredo) has too much load to carry now. PNoy should get some tough, independent-minded, respected (or feared) people for that DILG post. You can’t tame the wild without cracking some whips.”

Published inBenigno Aquino IIIGovernanceMalayaPeace and OrderPhilippine National Police

37 Comments

  1. In the first place, does Robredo deserve to be in Aquino’s cabinet?

  2. chi chi

    Bago ito a! May balak pala si PNoy ng ganyan…

    With these developments, Robredo should hand in his irrevocable resignation na, he does not deserve to be in PNoy’s aparador. It’s clear that from the beginning he is not in PNoy’s trusted circle, napilitan lang to appoint him to please the Balay faction.

    Now, I’m more than confused. Why Verzosa, aside from his experience as pulis, is he qualified for the DILG portfolio? Never mind, si Rico Puno e utak sekyu lang pero pwede kay PNoy na USEC. hahaha!!! Hala comedy na tayo…

  3. Does Robredo deserve to be in Aquino’s cabinet?

    My response? – One doesn’t become an RM Awardee for nothing. But forget the RM Award, that’s just a bonus, the real thing is Naga City and Jess Robredo’s committment to good governance that truly makes him a good fit on pre-historic Noynoy’s philosophy of “kung walang kurap, wag kayong kukurap dahil, now you see Jess, now you don’t”. My verdict? No. Jess Robredo don’t deserve THEM. He is on a different league and this tuwid na landas has gone so ridiculously crooked. I want to see Jess Robredo quit and leave that sinking boat.

  4. Reynz, naiiyak ako para sa bayan.

  5. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Philosophy and style daw ang disagreement.

    Philosophy: Robredo wants to kill jueteng. Noy does not want to go against Tiyo Peping.

    Style: Robredo is a morning person. Probinsyano yan, gising na, pagtilaok ng manok. He goes to work, and makes it a point to have lunch at home with his children. Samakatuwid, marami nang nagawa bago mag-alas dose.

    Si Noy, tila after 12 noon ang gising, according to posts here during the campaign period.

    So paggising ni Noy, baka si Robredo ang tulog, dahil uso sa probinsya ang siesta; a catnap of twenty minutes.

    Jump ship na ako. Like I said earlier, aanhin mo ang pagiging member of the national team kung bangko naman. Better find a team which will give you playing time. A candle is not meant to be hidden under a bushel, sabi nga sa Biblia.

    Ganyan din ang nangyari kay Paeng Salas. Hayun, umalis, and he shown in the UN. Sabi nga ni Reynz, you cannot put a good man down.

  6. Destroyer Destroyer

    Dapat kay Noynoy (Acting President) din siya then after 3 months or 100 days e evaluate siya kung qualified maging president kundi si qualified balik siya sa Barrion Captain sa tarlac…. sure, sure not qualified.

  7. SnV, you are correct here: Robredo is a morning person…Si Noy, tila after 12 noon ang gising.

    One of these days, I’ll write about it.

  8. NFA rice NFA rice

    This is my first comment.

    Any evidence of Aquino’s leadership on that day? I am extremely disappointed.

  9. martinsampaga martinsampaga

    Si versoza ang pinaka mataas na anino ni Gloria sa PNP at sa Administrasyon ngayon….Dapat isinabay na rin sya ni Bangit na masibak… KUNG SI RODRIGO DUTERTE ANG GAWING DILG CHIEF, talagang makakaasa tayo ng pagbabago!

  10. clearpasig clearpasig

    if Pnoy cannot find common grounds with Robredo, he wont be able find it anywhere closer to him. I think Rebredo is clear, reliable and up to the challenge. He even setup DILG website ahead of Malacanyang or maybe Pnoy is not ready to legalize huweteng.

  11. martinsampaga martinsampaga

    clearpasig, di na nga sila magkasundo, mahirap yan kasi vital sa interior security ang DILG… so kung ganyan lagi ang tensyon, eh walang mapupuntahan ang function ng departamento…

  12. The DILG post is not for a weakling. You have to deal with a lot of crooks – some very powerful – in both local govt’s and the police force. When Robredo accepted the appointment, he’s too intelligent to be naive I’m sure he knows his goose is cooked. Why did he still accept it?

    Well, look at the civil society people supporting him, they also pledge support to PNoy who is in a clash with their protège, I find it awkward. All along they knew Robredo didn’t enjoy full trust and confidence, why are they saying this now? Why did they keep this from us all this time?

    Talk about transparency and yes, the “straight” path.

  13. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Kaawa-awang Pinoy.

    Tatlong secretary, probi (probationary)
    Ang Pangulo, naka-OJT (on the job training)
    Ang Executive Secretary, KGB (kapag gabi bangag). Sorry KBL pala (kapag gabi langis – este lasing).

    Pasensya na, six thirsty na dito sa East Coast, at malapit na ang alak siyete.

  14. parasabayan parasabayan

    Si Versoza to be the DILG chief? Eh kung hindi namatay yung walong Chinese hostage pwede pa. But now, he can kiss that dream, GOODBYE! Di ba may pending case pa yung asawa niya kasama ng mga Euro generals?

    I do not know Robledo that much and I can not comment on his performance. I can not fault him on the hostage tragedy though if he was specifically mandated to stay away from the police business. Sayang siya kung talagang magaling. It will be our loss. Sino naman kaya ang ipapalit ni Pnoy sa kanya? Tanggalin na sana ni Pnoy yang si Rico Puno. Baka naman yung isa pang Puno na inaanay na at nilglumot na sa pagsisilbi ng lahat ng tatlong nakaraang presidente ang ipapalit ni Pnoy. Naku po, huwag naman sana.

  15. vic vic

    maybe Robredo is too good to be in the Cabinet in the first place…or that he can not just be muddled in some kind of what is now becoming another “not so different” group of President’s men and women…my suggestion cut and cut cleanly and keep your good name intact.

  16. rose rose

    office and working hours ng mga presidente natin:
    Erap: Midnight
    Gloria: lahat ng oras lalo na sa midnight..yon ang appointment time para sa kanya.
    Noynoy: tanghali…

    sarap ng buhay nila…wala silang oras that they have to be at work.

  17. Isagani Isagani

    Ano ba ito, suko kaagad. Wala pa ngang 100 days in office, kung ano ano ng duda ang lumabas. Sino ba ang akala ninyo, si super-pnoy ang nasa palsyo? Sinabi ng testing-testin, sinusubukan kung magkabagay, e sa asal lang ng tulog at gising e baliktad na – isang AM guy and the other PM – e di puyde.

    Marami pa diyan sa pinangalingan ni Robredo. Marami pang magaling na pinoy diyan. Madali tayong magpadala sa agus ng baha.

    Nobody is indispensable! Kahit na anong galing ang paniniwala sa sarili at ng ibang tao, laging may kasing o mas magaling pa. Yung mga may experience na bossing, managers at admins diyan, alam ninyo yan.

  18. oystermushroom oystermushroom

    Hi Sax, tama ka – Robredo is a morning person. Confirmed ng kaibigan kong Bicolano. Sabi niya maaga pa nagjojogging na si Robredo sa grounds ng Penafrancia Basilica sa Naga City. Padre de pamilya pa.

    Eh si PNoy binata. Kulang siya sa karakter-trait ng isa padre de pamilya. Mukhang ang tingin at trato niya sa pagka-presidente ay pambinata at barkadahan lang.

    Ang isang padre de pamilya ay di maghihintay at magpapabaya habang may masamang nagyayari tulad noong Aug. 23. Bagkos, ito ay gagawa agad ng paraan para malaman niya ang nagyayari sa pamilya niya (Pilipinas).

    Hamak talagang di magkakasundo itong ugali ni PNoy sa ugali ni Robredo. Umaasa akong gagawa si Robredo ng nararapat na hakbang pagdating ng panahon kung siya ay aalis sa aparador ni PNoy.

  19. buti na lang tinanggihan ni biNay ang DILG spot, kundi siya ang masisibak dito.

  20. RM awardee means nothing but some people were very good in lobbying for him. Robredo was put in a spot where his true character will show, sad to say this but the guy doesn’thave the cajones…and I don’t believe he jogs also, just look at the baggage!
    Even Mendoza was a multi awardee, I even know people awarded entrepreneur of the year but turned out to be crooks!
    …Lets take the cue from the president and “move on” meaning, lets stop all this useless feeling sorry for our asses and stick to the work at hand…we have to keepthe wheels of business rolling, we have to get regional contracts, we have to generate jobs! why wait for the government or demand all this from the government when we are doing it already inspite of?
    …don’t know with you guys but I thingk I’ll just stick to what I do best and contribute to job generation…if you feel its your job to be government watch dogs, do what you believe is helping the country and our fellowman…but whatever you do, so not forget to send money… 🙂

  21. I’m just hoping that the supposed factions, Sa/blay, are in this situation because of their overwhelming zeal to serve the country and they have all these brilliant ideas just waiting to be discovered and result to the betterment of the cuntry…

  22. ooops…country…
    ….my how the meanings of words change just by missing a letter…

  23. In the first place, does Robredo deserve to be in Aquino’s cabinet?

    If Robredo is that good (never mind the mishaps recently), but backed by a glimpse of the presidential background we see today, my answer is that it is Aquino and his cabinet that don’t deserve him.

    If he was good at what he did before, perhaps, he should concentrate on that. I

    don’t want to malign him unecessarily anymore, but could be too that he’s reached his level of competence.

  24. NFA rice NFA rice

    I dislike Gloria Arroyo and can’t help comparing Noynoy’s smirk and avoidance to face the camera in his “acceptance of responsibility” to Gloria’s “I am sorry.”, with her eyes directly looking at the camera.

  25. oystermushroom oystermushroom

    “RM awardee means nothing but some people were very good in lobbying for him. Robredo was put in a spot where his true character will show, sad to say this but the guy doesn’thave the cajones…and I don’t believe he jogs also, just look at the baggage!” Jugg

    I hope you don’t mean to cheapen the RM Awards. I believe its said to be the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Asia.

    At any rate, I still tend to believe my Bicolano friend about Jesse Robredo’s jogging in the grounds of the Penafrancia Basilica in Naga City. He himself has seem Robredo jogging. I had to call my friend just to make sure he was not giving me a bum stir on Robredo’s jogging. Cajones? Well, like I said in past post, the guy stood up to the powerful Villafuertes in Camarines Sur.

    I want Jesse Robredo to succeed in the DILG that is why I hope he does not quit. If PNoy fires him, PNoy must say why. But as of now PNoy can’t just fire him even when he does not have full trust in Robredo. PNoy was the one who place Robredo in a spot with the way he divided the DILG. He trusted more Rico Puno, so thats his lookout.

    I have the same wish for the rest of PNoy’s cabinet, that they also succeed. Mabawasan man lamang nila ang “comedy of errors” ika nga.

  26. perl perl

    Talk in the power circles even said Versoza was slated to be the next secretary of interior and local government after Jesse Robredo has been eased out of the politically strategic department. That’s the reason why as early as last month he was sharing to media his thoughts about going to civilian life earlier than his December official retirement date.
    Politika talaga, parang showbiz.. daming publicity… sinusubukan ibenta baka mabili… at taga-san naman power cirles? sa kampo ni Gloria? dami talgang gustong manabotahe…

    okay lang naman i-appoint si Versoza sa bagong posisyon.. huwag lang sa DILG!

  27. olan olan

    I think some personalities want’s to filter out Robredo. This does not reflect well to the ones around Noynoy. They should learn how to help Noynoy remove Uncertainty in governance but rather help build confidence.

  28. rose rose

    How important is the confirmation of the commitee? si Davide ba na confirm…si Romulo ba na confirm? Maganda sana kung ma confirm ang lahat na appointees..but the gov’t is not like the catholic church where confirmation is a Must as it is a sacrament…many times confirmation is simply political…oh well gov’t is politics in the Phil..no longer public service noong nakaraan na administration = it was a private serve vice…sa mga nangyayari si putot ay tawa tawa..

  29. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    # 24 NFA rice

    I dislike Gloria Arroyo and can’t help comparing Noynoy’s smirk and avoidance to face the camera in his “acceptance of responsibility” to Gloria’s “I am sorry.”, with her eyes directly looking at the camera.

    Hayaan mo, mayroon daw presscon na no holds barred. Panooring mabuti, lalo na ang eye blink rate. I hope it will not be as fast as that of that Dick (Nixon). Pinag-aralang mabuti ng body language experts yan, later, and has always been used as an example of how to catch a liar.

    In the case of the Glue, mayroon talagang practisadong sinungaling, na kaya pang lumusot sa lie-detector test. But bank accounts do not lie, kaya hindi lumalantad.

    Silicone does not lie either, kaya buking yung GMA – Gravity-defying mammarian accoutrement.

  30. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    # 20

    Twice mo nang ginamit yang term na yan jug – cajones.

    Did you mean boxes? Cajones is the plural form of cajon (box).

    If you meant balls, that is cojones, from cojon (testicle).

  31. chi chi

    Hehehe! @29 and 30.

  32. snv,
    yep, its supposed to be cojones, i have this nasty habit of mixing or missing letters, my fingers move faster than my eyes…especially if i don’t wear glasses 🙂

    the eye blink rate, its part of NLP or neurolinguistic programming, psychology majors take that up in college…
    …amd I’m really sorry to say that Noynoy’s press conference immediately after the Quirino incident is a mess as far as NLP is concerned…his body language, his facial expressions, his eye focus and movements were not in sync with what he was saying…anyone with NLP experience can see this, I got emails from classmates in the US pointing this out…the disconnect was so uncanny, it made him look almost funny…but to the people involved with the victims, the victims, fellow pinoys who felt like victims themselves – this sends a really bad message…
    …Gloria Arroyo, I tell you, seems to have mastered her NLP, she looks to me like a poker player…

    …and as far as awards in the philippines are concerned, ie RM, as long as you have to apply for it, send your resume to the body that evaluates candidates, as most awards except academic achievements are, its cheap…unless of course, the particular body that gives it is credible and the mechanics not self serving…or used in politics…

  33. NFA rice NFA rice

    saxnviolins #29,

    Kunsabagay. Even with three spookspeople, Noynoy fails at making excuses. Lahat talaga sa kanya palpak.

  34. NFA rice NFA rice

    Notice the inane smirks and claiming that the deaths will be laughable? I am beginning to believe the rumor that he is suffering from a mental disorder.

  35. saxnviolins saxnviolins

    Yeah he even said the problems “were not that grave”.

    True. Everybody just ended in the grave.

    So I wrote this verse earlier.

    I find it incredible;
    that you think it is laughable;
    kahit lahat ay na-dedbol;
    so your comm group was nagkanda-buhol-buhol;

    These gaffes are as abominable;
    as Uncle Peping’s protruding mandible;
    and now you are hahabul-habol;
    because people think you are less dependable.

  36. chi chi

    Hahaha! Like na like ko ang poem, atty sax!

  37. rose rose

    sax: hindi pratisado ang smirk smile ni putot….second nature na niya!

Comments are closed.