PAGE TWELVE By ELINANDO B. CINCO Elinando B. Cinco It is very apparent in his public speeches that he delivers almost every day. Many people have noticed that he has not done this as serious as he is warning now – his sweeping the cobwebs in government bureaucracy. This time, it appears that some casualties may be his Davao friends. He issues the warning to those in government service that he will not hesitate to get rid outright those who are implicated in graft and corruption cases. And he punctuates this dire admonishing by spewing expletives during public rallies. In short, it is clear that he hates grafters in government like they were   afflicted with a contagious disease. All those in government are targets. How does he go around zeroing in on them? It is said that first he gives a hint. Next he instructs proper government agencies to do the investigating. Then the validated reports are done quickly for submission to him. And finally the boom is lowered! But some are saying the President’s Davao friends that he appointed to high government positions may be exempted! I don’t think so. Lately, two developments involving personalities from Davao have become subjects of public and government rebuke. Media covered them and not a hint of Malacanang intervention was noticeable. An interesting case was about former Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena, a homegrown Davao police official. Many believed he was untouchable. But he is now facing criminal and administrative charges, along with some 50 others, filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last January 24. At first, he never believed the magnetic lifters contained shabu which PDEA has estimated to have a street value of P2.4 billion. The President also thought the amount was “just speculative.” The hidden illegal shipment was able to slip through customs undetected, according to media reports. Amid the ruckus over the elusive shipment, Lapena was removed from his customs position and transferred  to TESDA by the President. Thus, “now TESDA Director General Lapena is charged with two counts of violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act, dereliction of duty and grave misconduct.” Next item that coffee shop regulars are talking nowadays is Mislatel, a flagship corporate behemoth majority owned by Dennis Uy, a known campaign-kettle donor of the Duterte presidential campaign in 2016. Late last year, it was almost given the imprimatur by Congress as the third telecommunications provider. It satisfactorily met all the requirements. No sweat. But in a continuation of the hearing in the Senate last week, Senator Drilon stumbled upon an alleged flaw in the earlier franchise of Mislatel that, he claimed, “violated the conditions of its privilege for failing to continuously operate a year after securing  congressional approval of its franchise in 1998.” For that violation, “the Mislatel franchise is deemed revoked,” the Senate minority leader insisted. Lawyer Adel Tamano, speaking in behalf of Mislatel, countered Drilon’s views: “The Supreme Court made a very simple decision that since a franchise  is a property right, there is a due process requirement for it to be revoked and a direct action for a quo warranto is the proper action to take.” Momentarily, the Palace has only a curt comment on the matter – “Hands off!” Meanwhile, not many are aware that Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process, has officially said goodbye to his boyhood friend (the President) last December 1. He cited his delicate health as the reason for leaving his Cabinet position. A coffee shop enthusiast, out to tick the ribs of some members for some mild guffaws, volunteered – “The Davao community in Malacanang is getting thinner by the day.”