Critical Analysis

Drugs, Drugs, Etc.

“P1.7-m ilegal na drogang idineklara bilang cosmetic products naharang ng BOC sa Port Of Clark,” “P749-m shabu nasamsam ng customs at PDEA sa MICP,” “PBBM ibinida ang aniya mapayapang kampanya kontra droga ng kanyang administrasyon.”

ALMOST EVERY DAY, news watchers are faced with such frontpage headlines above, affecting many cities and provinces.

Concerned citizens are naturally reminded of former PNP Col. Eduardo Acierto’s claim: “Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Bong Go, and Bato de la Rosa are protecting and are integral to the security of the illegal drugs network operating in the country. They allowed the entry of large volumes of illegal drugs through our ports and supported the syndicates by defending them, targeting those that go against them, and playing dumb to true justice.”

Likewise, people remember from the TV live-streamed hearing/investigation of the Congress’ Quad Committee on Good Governance, that PCol. Jovie Espenido asserted that the PNP under the former president “is the biggest crime syndicate”.

PESTERING PROBLEM
“What’s the TRUTH?” What have PBBM and his VP Sara Duterte been doing about this long-drawn out drug problem since way back when VP Sara Duterte’s father (now awaiting trial for the charge of “crimes against humanity” and now detained in an ICC jail in the Hague), was bragging as the President in 2016 to solve the drug problem in a few weeks?

Also, what have current incumbent senators Bong Go and Bato de la Rosa been doing to help out on finally putting an end to this pestering drug problem?

Needless to say, what have the DOJ, PNP, PDEA, and other drug enforcement agencies done to control and stop known drug lords (that is, if they have actually identified and confirmed certain persons as drug lords)?

Or, more importantly, have PBBM and VP Sara Duterte ever thought of the drug problem as a health issue? And that their administration has set up Drug Rehabilitation Centers nationwide to cater to citizens suffering from drug addiction?

PBBM’s ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Indeed, the Filipino people are seriously bothered with how PBBM and VP Sara Duterte have been serving as the top leaders of the country. PBBM will be delivering his SONA in late July. What has he accomplished?

Aside from the failed attempts to eliminate or at least minimize the drug problem, why is the P20/kg of rice available only in a few selected areas in the country, considering the more than 55 million poor and marginalized Filipinos struggling to eat 3 or at least 2 meals a day?

When will the countless jobless Filipinos find employment or given opportunities to have a livelihood? When will the workers, farmers and fishermen enjoy fair wages? When will the country’s high school graduates be considered as fully educated in terms of language /reading comprehension, proficiency in math, and critical thinking?

Why are China’s vessels in the WPS?

A HUMANE SOCIETY
While VP Sara Duterte is traveling to the Hague, visiting her ICC detainee-father in the Netherlands and to Australia for some vague errands, the people cannot see how such ‘missions’, if at all, are part of her “service to the people.”

The people are concerned, for years now, how much has she been spending their money as her salary, being the country’s vice president. Particularly when she was the DepEd secretary, was she able at least to raise a notch higher the country’s educational standard to an international level?

Given her dismal track record, amounting to serious betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution, “Litisin na si VP Sara Duterte” has understandably reverberated nationwide.

The question remains: “When will the people enjoy a humane and just society?”