PDEA doing a yeoman’s job

AS the lead agency in the government’s war on drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has assumed a gargantuan responsibility to keep the country and families away from the clutches of drug syndicates.

A cursory look at the official website of PDEA, it listed 18 functions derived from the mandate prescribed by the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9165) mainly, “for the efficient and effective law enforcement of all the provisions on dangerous drugs and/or precursors and essential chemicals as provided in R.A. No.9165;”

That it chose to define specifically what it should seek to accomplish invariably tells the public what it can expect from this group of dedicated men and women.

In Pangasinan, on their shoulders lies the burden of keeping the 1,364 barangays drug-free after the oversight provincial committee certified to their being drug-cleared.

It is, indeed, heartening to read reports of PDEA teams, whether operating alone or collaborating with the police, working overtime arresting drug pushers and busting drug dens where they can be found despite their being sorely undermanned and ill-funded.

It’s unlikely that PDEA can keep all the streets in the province clear of drug pushers but the dogged presence of its operatives should encourage our communities not only to extend their moral and logistical support but to be vigilant in providing the information in order that they can accomplish their mission.

PDEA needs our communities’ help to keep our families safe.

 

‘Denggoyvaxia’

 IT seems obvious now that most, if not all, of the 26 or so pupils who died from various organ failures had perished after having been injected with dengvaxia.  It is not conclusive, but indications, including forensic tests on exhumed cadavers, strongly point to dengvaxia being a possible cause of the children’s death.  All the fatalities were hale and healthy before they got vaccinated with dengvaxia, approved by the Department of Health for injection on 11 years old and below as the vaccine is deemed to protect previous dengue victims.  Some P4.8 billion was allegedly spent under the PNoy administration to buy dengvaxia, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur of France and which was administered to more than 700,000 schoolchildren last year.  Dengvaxia has caused, been causing, gruesome effects so that its supposed efficacy has now become suspect.

Did we buy “denggoyvaxia” instead of dengvaxia—“denggoy” to mean fake?  Ouch!

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