Battle vs. the drug beast

 

ILLEGAL drugs are a multi-tentacled monster, arguably more insidious than illegal gambling. The destruction it wreaks are numerous and extensive: physical and psychological harm to the users, emotional repercussions to their families, financial damages resulting from addiction, violent crimes and other threats to the community’s peace arising from those under the influence of drugs, and political corruption through bribery by drug dealers in exchange for protection.

For the past three decades, government officials merely paid lip service to addressing the drug menace, a situation that drug dealers took advantage of, bribing those in authority with financial support during election periods so that they can freely and cheerfully go about their evil enterprise. But now that the governor has publicly pledged to make Pangasinan drug-free, the dealers’ happy days could soon be over.

The crusade against illegal drugs is best fought at the local levels because it would be tantamount to pulling out the bad weeds from its deepest roots. Governor Amado Espino Jr. has trumpeted his campaign, now he needs the full support of the city and municipal governments. A drug-free Pangasinan could very well prove to be the governor’s – as well as the mayors’ – most important legacy. They could look to the agricultural town of Sto. Tomas for inspiration, a town that prides itself in being a bona fide drug-free municipality for decades now. Granted it is a small town and relatively easier to manage and police, but it is a shining example nonetheless.

The battle vs. drugs will require more than just political will. It needs to be a campaign based on a continuing commitment to preserve life and order in our communities.

Slaying the drug beast is by no means easy, but neither is it impossible.

 

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Follow the leader

 

FOLLOW the leader. And so, because his boss resigned through a text-message, Carlos So did the same: Text his boss about the matter of resignation.

The leader being referred to here is Ruffy Biazon, the Customs chief. Biazon said he offered to quit his post by texting President Aquino just minutes after Mr. Aquino had finished delivering his Sona (State of the Nation Address) on July 22. In that Sona – Mr. Aquino’s fourth since 2010 – the President slammed the Bureau of Customs for unabated corruption, using the most scathing words yet in memory in describing Customs top officials as “thick-faced (makapal ang mukha).”

Biazon said the President rejected his resignation. Mr. Aquino did not deny Biazon’s allegation.

In his text-message to Biazon, So, the Naia (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Customs chief collector, did not offer to resign in a blatant disregard to Biazon’s circular asking all Customs collectors to resign. Multi-awarded broadcaster Ted Failon quoted So as saying, “As our Chief, you have the power to do what you want to do to us.” As we go to press, So, a lawyer, has remained as Naia chief collector.

We are not surprised by So’s reaction to Biazon’s action. If Biazon could not resign in writing, irrevocably, then his underlings are justified to do the same – duplicate their boss’s example.

So, what So merely did was follow the leader. What’s so wrong with that?

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