The few anti-drugs advocates

By Bebot Villar

THE talk about narco-politicians is unnerving many at mas lalong tumitindi pa because nanggagalaiti ang marami na malaman, agad-agad, who they are.

It’s a hot topic sa mga coffee shops kung sino sa mga public officials ang posibleng involved sa illegal drug operations. Huwag na tayong lumayo because sa Pangasinan lang ay your guess is as good as mine. But syempre we don’t hastily make conclusions because kailangan talaga ang matibay na evidence.

Sa lifestyle pa lang ng ilan, ay obvious na. In most cases kasi, hindi alam ng ilan sa kanila how to handle their overnight riches and just end up spending like there is no tomorrow. Sila yong mga tipong one day millionaire at kung bumili ng top of the line cars ay parang bumibili lang ng matchbox. Tuloy, takang-taka ang mga tao sa kanila.  Buti lang sana kung meron silang legitimate business na puwedeng pang-justify their newfound ritzy lifestyle.

I’m not about to make excuses for PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) the law enforcement body for anti-drug operations when others cannot understand why in spite of confirmed intelligence on some, they remain untouchable.  The DDB or Dangerous Drugs Board that I head is a policy-making body and we do coordinate and work together in the fight against illegal drugs.

But I do know that everything will soon fall into its right place at the right time. Be patient, may araw din ang mga sangkot na yan.

* * * *

What is sad and disheartening is the continued indifference and apathy of many congressmen, governors, vice governors, mayors, vice mayors, councilors, barangay captains, Sangguniang Kabataan leaders and many other elected officials in the campaign against illegal drugs.

In Pangasinan, aside from Dagupan City Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, a long time ally and a strong advocate ng campaign contra illegal drugs as evidenced by her string of activities that she organizes in the city every year, there are not too many who share the same commitment.

Si 4^th District Congresswoman Gina de Venecia ay na-alarma rin and has began coordinating sa mga anti-drugs body like ours and other law enforcement agencies because Barangay Bonuan Binloc in Dagupan City where she resides is already gaining notoriety in the region as haven for illegal drug trade.

Mayor Ric Revita ng Rosales recently came forward to join the campaign contra sa illegal drugs. Nababalitaan ko rin na sinasampulan din nya ang ilang pasaway sa bayan nya.

But who else can be named na totoong kasama sa advocacy na ito?

Dagupan Mayor Benjie Lim followed suit after realizing the truth na lumalala ang drug problem sa Dagupan. But bakit pinabayaan o napabayaan at patuloy na pinapabayaan ng mga barangay officials of Bonuan Binloc led by Kapitan Pedro Gonzales ang illegal drug trade in that barangay? SK president pa naman ang apo niya and the most vulnerable victims ay mga kabataan. Bakit nga ba Kapitan Gonzales?

Kung hindi napabayaan o pinabayaan, bakit hindi agad nasawata ang operations ng drug dealers at pushers sa barangay niya sa umpisa pa lamang? Bakit, sinlaki ba ng Luzon ang Bonuan Binloc para mahirap i-monitor ang activities ng mga pumupunta diyan, especially ang mga “strangers in the night”?

Dialogue ba or dayaan-log yata with barangay officials ang nangyayari because what is happening in their backyard is completely different from what they always pledge to do for their community.

Ilang beses na bang ginawa yang dialogue kuno na yan with them but nothing really changed since the first dialogue – pugad pa rin ng mga pushers dyan. Regardless kung ang pushers ay Muslims or Christian, lipulin sila. Kung ayaw sa rehabilitation, kulungan na. Kung matigas pa rin ang ulo, ibigay ang mas nararapat!!

In our town, Sto. Tomas, maliwanag na maliwanag sa mga kababayan namin na addicts at pushers have no place to hide and can’t operate because alam nilang may kalalagyan sila. Alam ng lahat kung anong ibig sabihin nyan.

I welcome names of other officials to be included in the list of those who share our anti-drugs advocacy.  But we need to see concrete actions, hindi yong lip service lang.

Isa pang nakakadismaya kasi ay kung pera sa jueteng and farm to market road projects na nagiging “farm to pocket” ang pinag-uusapan, mabilis pa sa kidlat kung umaksyon itong mga local officials natin.

Pero kung drugs, para silang mga nalamigang mantika na tulog na tulog at malapit nang mabangungot sa kanilang pagpapasarap at pagkakahimbing.

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