BACOLOD CITY — I could not find the proper adjective to describe the acts of former police comptroller General Eliseo de la Paz caught carrying cash of some $9.2 million in the Moscow airport. But shameless may not be the strongest word. Probably despicable, contemptible, brazen.

I was viewing the Senate investigation and saw how Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago vented her anger on de la Paz and ordering his arrest for not showing up.

Poor DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno and PNP National Director Jesus Versoza insisting they approved only P2.3 million for the trip and the question was where did the P6.9 million come from.

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Many conjectured the money could have come from illegal sources, like jueteng or drug trade. And that the purpose was to launder the money abroad. Without the investigation, we will never know.

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It was an interesting idea watching at home La Miriam venting her temper on both de la Paz and Puno.

When Miriam went on a rampage, the other Senators kept quiet and became the good spectators. It appeared they enjoyed it, too.

“Arrest him!” referring to de la Paz and, “bring him here.” With Puno, Miriam dug his closets to settle old issues of Puno’s term under the different presidents where, it was said, Puno led the assault to destroy her when she was facing Fidel Ramos for the presidency in 1992.

When Puno tried to reason out, she snapped at him and did not allow him to talk.

It was enjoyable watching Miriam on a rampage but the bottom line is the shamelessness of our policemen for which Miriam is right and is being cheered by all.

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What is despicable is while we are clobbered by graft and corruption at home, this one got international press when they were caught in no less than Moscow, the capital of Russia.

Sen. Nene Pimentel told the investigation that with that big amount and the number of the delegation that included the wives of the officials, including the wife of PNP National Director Jesus Versoza, and the number of days they spent, it would run to P20,000 a day for each.

For a country hit by a very serious crisis, this is unpardonable.

I hope Senator Miriam Santiago does not lose steam in getting to the bottom of the issue. Where did the P6.9 million come from?

Who were the people who raised these? If jueteng, which of the jueteng lords? If drug money which of drug lords?

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We are lucky in Negros Occidental. We have good policemen.

Our governor chooses the best, without any record of foolishness and only a record of dedication and commitment to the service.

In some other places, police officers are used as collectors of funds for the election.

The bottom line is the illegal gambling. Or drug trade. This is where big funds come from.

Our police here have put illegal gambling under control. And, not just the Governor, the city and municipal executives themselves see to it police chiefs are upright.

Col. Rosendo Franco, our provincial commander, was due for transfer but, on petitions he was retained.

A new provincial police director will soon be named. Our provincial officials must be careful in choosing the best, not those who are nearest to them and will follow them blindly but most important, dedication and commitment to the service, and honest.

Not just the officials. Media especially must also be on alert.

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We sympathize with people in Luzon where jueteng is very rampant. And the greatest beneficiary here is the police. Police can make life hard for jueteng operators if they want to. But we have people in Pampanga where they are working to oust Governor Ed Panlilio.

Illegal gambling and illegal drug trade can never prosper without the help of police officers.

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