Fighting the drug menace

UNITED we stand, divided we fall.

This bears remembering now, particularly in view of the government’s effort, if indeed it is serious in its pronounced all-out campaign, to address the illegal drug trade in the country.

The seemingly uncoordinated efforts of agencies involved in the task, which have made long-running headlines in national media, hits us right at home here in Pangasinan with the recent falling out between the Region 1 office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Prosecutor’s Office in Dagupan City.

The case involves one of the most notorious and biggest illegal drug traders in the province, Datu Michael Bagul. With the network of operators as big as the Bagul Group, among others in Pangasinan, there are allegations coming right from PDEA that the province is the supplier of drugs across the entire Ilocos Region.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr., who has been aggressively developing and promoting the province, is understandably deeply offended by this. He has challenged PDEA to show facts proving this. But whether it is true or not, the fact remains that illegal drugs is a major problem here. Espino himself has listed that as one of the three top priorities that the provincial police must now address.

The illegal drug problem here could not be resolved if our government agencies, both under national agencies and local governments, blow opportunities of capturing and convicting the criminals. And all the more that they waste chances by bickering instead of working together.

Everyone the PDEA, the Prosecutor’s Office, the local police, the local government officials all the way down to the barangay level should be in the anti-drug campaign together. They should all be helping each other even as everyone should be aware of their responsibilities, particularly the legalities involved in busting suspected drug dealers because we are in a democratic system where human rights are as valuable as the pursuit against criminality.

Finger-pointing and infighting among our officials involved in drug busting, instead of cooperating, is no way to fight the drug menace. Neither does it lead to any justice. It merely serves to embolden the criminals. And frustrates the victims and the general public. Worse, the wrangling over the release and or acquittal of a drug pusher or financier suggests that bribery has become a part of the illegal drug scene in the country.

As the various agencies clash endlessly, the number of illegal drug victims rise every day.

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