Poe-Querubin Partners in Anti-Crime

The President’s choice of her cabinet greatly affects the over-all performance of her administration. Most of the time, we determine that someone is a good leader if she possesses the capacity to guide competent and honest individuals to work alongside her.

This is what Grace Poe clearly exhibited by unequivocally announcing to the Filipino people her choice of the man who will solve the country’s complicated crime problem – Col. Ariel Querubin.

Medal of Valor Awardee. United Nations Service Medal and Ribbon. A soldier who valiantly stood up against the corrupt Arroyo Administration. This is Col. Ariel Querubin.

Querubin graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in 1979 as a Dean's Lister. He took his master's degree in defense studies from the University of Canberra in Australia, graduating with distinction.

Querubin is also a staunch warrior against corruption. He was one of those who also implicated businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles as the alleged mastermind in the P10 billion pork barrel scam.

In the words of Grace Poe:

"Iyung iba nagdududa kung kaya ko bang labanan ang drugs kaya bilang isang pangulo na maraming inaasikaso, kailangan may mapakakatiwalaan na crime czar. Ilalagay ko ang isang may Medal of Valor na talagang magaling -- si Colonel Querubin -- na inirerespeto ng PNP at AFP na makipaglaban sa krimen at droga,"

This is where Rody Duterte fails us. His choice of the anti-crime czar is a man of questionable integrity and someone who is associated to graft and corruption. His name is Gen. Hermogenes Esperon. Duterte portrays himself as the one who will eradicate criminality in the first six months of his incumbency if ever he wins, but Esperon casts serious doubt into this ambitious claim.

As the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 at General Headquarters, AFP; Esperon was implicated during the 2004 alleged election fraud. He was mentioned in taped conversations called the "Hello Garci Tapes" to have worked for the relief of a Brigade Commander in Lanao who was not sympathetic to then Presidential Candidate Macapagal-Arroyo. He is indeed a puppet of the Arroyo administration. A soldier without conscience who blindly followed his corrupt "Commander-in-Chief's" orders.

Esperon also had ties with PDAF Queen Janet Napoles. Esperon was president and chief executive officer of the Asia Star Power Resources Corp. (AStar Power), a coal trading firm controlled by the Napoles family.

Unlike Col. Querubin, Esperon fails to realize that the ultimate authority of the military and all other law enforcement agencies emanates from the people whom they are duty-bound to serve and protect. This is an anti-crime czar who would only use the position for his and his President's advantage.

So, fellow voters, your choice of the next President of the Republic of the Philippines must not only look at the personal credentials of the candidate; we must also consider who will be part of her cabinet. Grace Poe, unfettered by shady political alliances and party affiliations, showed to us that her “Gobyernong may Puso” would include individuals of honesty, integrity and genuine dedication to public service.