SENADO 2016, sino nga ba?
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Samuel Pagdilao
Independent
Born: February 13, 1957, Cotabato City
Best known for leading the 1999 rescue of Filipino-Chinese businessman Robert Uy, two-star general and PNP Special Action Forces (SAF) founder Samuel Pagdilao seeks higher office as part of the senatorial ticket of the Poe-Escudero tandem.
Although this is his first foray into higher legislative office, Pagdilao is no stranger to the limelight. His father, retired Colonel Samuel Salviejo Pagdilao is the incumbent mayor of Pinili, a fourth class municipality in Ilocos Norte while his mother, Anunciacion Duldulao-Pagdilao served three terms as mayor of Pinili from 2001 to 2010. The Pagdilaos have reportedly been ruling Pinli for the last two decades. His younger brother, Joel Pagdilao is also the current chief of PNP’s National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO).
Drawing on his experience as former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), his main senatorial advocacies as summarized in his tag line Kay Sir Tsip, Safe Ka! remain concentrated on peace order: stronger measures to prevent crime that will call for increased community involvement as well as stronger punishment for wrongdoers, modernization of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and investing in the welfare of barangay officials and tanods who safeguard the barangay against neighborhood crimes and misdemeanors.
However, one of Pagdilao’s more controversial platforms as senatorial aspirant involve the reinstatement of the death penalty. In an interview with Interaksyon, he was quoted saying: “The death penalty, which was abolished in 2006, should be reinstated for foreigners who smuggle or trade illegal drugs in our country. The principle of reciprocity should apply… It is high time that the problem of drug trafficking be curbed through penalties that will deter the continued incidences of drug abuse, especially among the Filipino youth.”
In 2013, he served as party-list representative of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism-Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) Party List where he authored 38 House Bills and resolutions, and co-sponsored 114 measures. His more notable bills filed in the 16th Congress include HB 4541 that gives prenatal and postnatal care to pregnant detainees and HB 02637 which seeks to provide additional benefits for barangay officials. Pagdilao was also among the House members who signed to override President Aquino’s veto on the bill proposing the Social Security Services (SSS) pension increase.
However, in 2007, critics slammed ACT-CIS’ association with the PNP-CIDG, the organization Pagdilao used to lead. According to detractors, ACT-CIS does not represent any marginalized sector and can be argued to only exist as a “government-initiated project” to be used to the ACT-CIS’ advantage in the party-list race.
That same year, Pagdilao faced backlash from the LGBTQ community after he warned gay police officers that swaying their hips while marching could be a direct cause of their dismissal from the force.
Pagdilao also came under hot water in 2011 for allegedly playing heroics after he led in filing “premature” and “under-researched” complaints against former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and several police officials over the allegedly anomalous acquisition by the police force of Arroyo’s second-hand civilian choppers which he sold as new for P105 million. Critics expressed disapproval over Pagdilao’s rash action which also indicted whistle-blowers and could result in the acquittal of Arroyo and other accused police officials.
Pagdilao started his career in the police force as Spokesman and Chief of the Public Information Office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 2006 to 2007. In 2010, he served as Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6 and from 2010 to 2011 he was assigned to direct the regional office of Region 4A - Calabarzon. During his stint in Calabarzon, he founded the “Pulis Ko, Titser Ko” program which educates grade school students about crime prevention, welfare and development, child safety and other related topics with the aim of producing law-abiding citizens.
He was promoted to Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) where he founded the Community Investigative Support (CIS) group, a nationwide organization whose 80 000 membership of civilian and professional volunteers help the PNP in solving crimes by gathering intelligence on criminals and criminal activities. In 1998, he was awarded one of the Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP).
Pagdilao is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Matapat Class of 1979 where he graduated Baron and received the AFP Chief of Staff for leadership.
Moreover, he was among the founding members of the Special Action Force (SAF), PNP’s elite unit which was established in 1983. From 1979 to 1986, he was a Junior Officer of the Philippine Constabulary, the forerunner of PNP. He took up Bachelor of Laws at the University of Santo Tomas where he graduated cum laude after which he took up his Masters in Public Administration at the Manuel L. Quezon University in 1995 where he also taught law.
Pagdilao’s candidacy is endorsed by Davao Mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and Zambales Mayor Jun Ebdane. He is married to Ma. Rosella Paño-Pagdilao, former party-list nominee of ACT-CIST and has five children, Samuelito, Petros Paulo, Francesa, and Fidel Aaron
References:
http://www.bilangpilipino.com/candidata/samuel-pagdilao#
http://www.congress.gov.ph/members/search.php?id=pagdilao-s