I expect that the review of the events on that fateful night in Caloocan which led to the death of a young man will be pursued in many fronts.

Kian’s life was ended so dastardly that it has united the nation in anger and grief. This national pain can only be salved by the truth.

In the House and in the Senate, the budget hearings will provide an opportunity for oversight, which could answer a very critical question : What are the sources of funds for this nationwide operation?

Where does the PNP get its financial ammo for the conduct of tokhang, of both the legal (yung katok lang na may pakiusap) and the lethal kind (yung may putok na may patay)?

For 2018, the administration is asking for P900 million for the implementation of Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded.
Before such campaign is reloaded with funds, questions as to how it will be implemented must first be asked by the institution which will approve that request – Congress.

It should not write a blank check.

PNP will also get a P20 billion increase in its budget next year, to P131.5 billion, from P111.8 billion this year. Para saan ba ang budget na ito? Ano ang mga targets na kakamtin?

Is this enough to fund the suppression of other crimes, like riding-in-tandem and akyat-bahay robberies? Are funds better spent for deterrence, like 24/7 foot patrols? Hindi ba mas mainam ang triple patrols kesa dun sa double barrel?

Ang Internal Affairs Service ay bibigyan ng P731 million para sa pasweldo ng mga tauhan nito. This is purposely specified in the national budget so its release will not be withheld by police officers who may be the subject of its investigation.

Mabuti ring tanungin ang IAS kung paano nila gagastahin ang pondong ito para sa madisiplina ang mga tiwaling pulis. The IAS is the tripwire of abuses and the whistleblower of bad deeds. Is it doing its job?

There is also a provision in the PNP’s budget which should be studied for revision. This refers to the payment, using the PNP’s operational funds, for damages to private property, and for injury and death of civilian resulting from police operation, but only upon orders of a competent court.

Baka pwede na ang ganoong tulong ay agarang maibigay ng PNP, na hindi na maghihintay pa ng utos ng korte, na maaaring tumagal ng taon o dekada.

Kung may mga nasaging mga nakaparadang sasakyan sa isang operasyon o mga sibilyan na nasugatan ng ligaw na bala, bakit pa hihintayin ang desisyon ng isang huwes kung handa naman ang PNP na magbigay ng ayuda?