Crime still does not pay

By Bebot Villar

 

ANG dumaan na June 5, 2013 ay nagkaroon ng historic significance kasi definitive justice in the fight against illegal drugs was obtained and unfolded in the Philippines. This proves na walang sinisino ang hustisya.

Parang malakas na bombang sumabog ang news about the life imprisonment sentence kay Supt. Dionicio Borromeo, ang former Dagupan police chief, who was tagged as protector of the shabu laboratory that was busted by authorities in July 2008 in Naguilian town in La Union.

Judge Ferdinand Fe of the Regional Trial Court Branch 33 also ordered Borromeo to pay a fine of P10 million! Kasamang nasentensyahan ay si PO3 Joey Abang na aide ni Supt. Borromeo na magdurusa ng 12 to 20 years in prison and to pay P500,000.

Tuluy-tuloy sana ang kaligayahan nila sa operation ng shabu lab na ito until Dante Palaganas, the caretaker of the shabu laboratory, tagged Borromeo as one of the main protectors, kaya daw hindi ito agad na-dismantle. Anim pang Chinese chemists at maintainers ng naturang shabu laboratory ang hindi na naparusahan dahil hindi na sila mahanap.

Bakit kasi laging nakakakawala ang mga arrested Intsik dito sa atin? Kahit sa PASG’s biggest drug bust sa Subic nakawala rin ang Intsik na involved kasama ang buong pamilya! Sobrang powerful ba ang connection ng mga Intsik na ito at pagdating ng hulihan ay biglang naglalaho at left holding the bag ay ang mga kawawang Pinoy na nadidikdik sa kaso?

Nag-celebrate ang mga grupo that supported the case nang maibaba ang court decision. Sa totoo, marami ang halos mawalan na ng pag-asa na magkaroon ng saysay ang kasong ito when Supt. “Borro,” as Borromeo was popularly known, was allowed to post a P1-million bail in February 2011.

For a while, Borro managed to escape the prying eyes of the media until the Atimonan massacre encounter on Jan. 6 sa Atimonan, Quezon. He suddenly surfaced and issued statements about this shootout in his capacity as deputy police director ng Cavite. Consequently, I heard comments like, “Malakas talaga si Borro, balik uli sya at promoted pa!”

According to Borro’s friends, nagbago na daw sya, for good. Naging Christian na daw. But, of course, that doesn’t erase the crime he has committed and now came the time to pay for it. Police chief siya ng Dagupan when the shabu laboratory was discovered.

Many thought his participation was “unbelievable, unthinkable, highly impossible” kasi ang mamang pulis na ito ay kilala bilang achiever. In fact, awardee siya as Country’s Outstanding Police in Service (COPS) in 2004 dahil sa mga magagandang programa niya sa Caloocan City. He helped Caloocan become the Best City Police Station for four years (1998, 1999, 2000, and 2002)

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But how can a police officer so respected and dedicated to his job turn out to be our top enemy in our fight against illegal drugs? Dahil ba sa “get-rich-quick” mindset niya?

Paano kaya nakonsensya si Borro ng PMA Class 1989 sa shabu lab na tinatayang about P1 billion shabu ang kinita in its more than one year operation doon? May tatlong anak siya. Hindi kaya niya naisip na baka isa sa kanila ang magiging biktima ng illegal drugs?

Minsan kong nakasama si Borro when I tendered a blow out for him sa Shangri-La Makati nung ipakilala sya sa akin ni Pol Bataoil (dating police general nuon) dahil awardee raw siya at isa siya sa pride ng ating bansa sa hanay ng ating kapulisan. Parang ang sabi sa akin that time ay Officer of The Year daw siya? I was happy to be with him dahil isa siyang matino at mahusay na pulis. Nakapanghihinayang ang mga sumunod na pangyayari.

Isang wake-up call ito sa mga iba pang suspected protectors of illegal drugs or public officials na drug lords na mismo. May mga nadidinig tayong mga pangalan pero hindi pa dumating ang day of judgment sa kanila dahil kulang pa ng evidence to convict them. But kalat na kalat ang balita na sila ay mga protectors ng illegal drug business.

Some of them are popular politicians who continue to be elected dahil madali nilang bilugin ang ulo ng mga botante na para sa konting barya lang, ayos na. Madali silang makalimot. Paano na lang kaya ang bansa if they continue to remain in power? Paano na lang ang palaging sinsabing ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan? Paano pa sila magiging mabuting asset ng bansa natin kung marami sa kanila ay addict na nagiging parokyano ng mga greedy officials na ito?

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