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Thursday, March 28, 2024

The tipping point

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There is outrage against the killings in pursuit of this administration’s war against illegal drugs. The murder of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos might well be the tipping point that could make President Rodrigo Duterte rethink his bloody war.

This is not to say he was wrong in focusing on eradicating drugs, alongside criminality and corruption. However, the mantra to kill all those involved in illegal drugs has spawned collateral problems. He told policemen he would protect and even promote them.

The mayor of Albuera, Leyte, for instance, was killed inside his cell in November. Those who killed him were the members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region VIII. They were reassigned but later on reinstated. This was even after the Senate probe that found that the killing of the mayor, a drug suspect, was premeditated.

Delos Santos’ killing sparked an outrage among many sectors of society.

The President must realize that the problem of illegal drugs cannot be ended in such a short time. It has roots in poverty and unemployment.

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The war may have reached its tipping point. The President should perhaps change his strategy.

Then again, I don’t believe all this will lead to people power. Many Filipinos still believe in him.

The Senate should investigate this. The physical evidence belies the claim of the police. We have to see the war on drugs in the proper perspective.

* * *

The President has accepted the resignation of Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon. Faeldon’s utter incompetence made possible the entry of drugs worth P6.4 billion into the country.

Another outsider, former director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Isidro Lapeña, will replace Faeldon.

I hesitate to judge Lapeña’s success in weeding out corrupt Customs personnel, but I have seen too many “novatos” bungle the job. This is exactly what happened with Faeldon.

If the President appoints an insider, he can’t be sure that the appointee is not a part of the smuggling syndicate. If he appoints an outsider, he or she would need at least six months to know the workings of the agency.

Some finance chiefs have tried appointing undersecretaries to the helm of Customs, but sooner or later they resign, unable to stand the corruption.

So what should we do?

We can look at how other countries are doing it. For example, during the time of President Marcos, Finance Minister Cesar Virata had Societe General de Surveillance undertake pre-shipment and valuation. It worked ­—but only for a while. Corrupt Customs officials discredited the SGS as ineffective.

Perhaps it is time to think about engaging SGS again?

* * *

Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista has been accused of misdeclaring his assets in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. No less than his wife Patricia made revelations about his wealth two weeks ago.

The chairman is left with two choices—resign or be impeached. Can he stand the heat? I am his friend and I sympathize with him.

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