"Sometimes, prudence is the better part of valor."
"Sometimes, prudence is the better part of valor."
It was a shock to read in the papers that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency intends to bring back the controversial and now infamous OPLAN Tokhang launched by now Senator Bato de la Rosa who was then the Philippine National Police Chief.
The announcement came about a week after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Batchelet, the former President of Chile, issued a strongly worded statement regarding Human Rights abuses in the country related to our anti-drug campaign. It followed an earlier planned resolution by the European Union parliament to remove the duty-free entry of selected Philippine goods that constitute a good chunk of our exports to the European Union, also because of human rights abuses.
What was going on in the mind of PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva that he found it necessary to announce the plan at the time that he did? Was it perhaps a dare to the UN and EU for both to go right ahead with what they want to do, like the way Secretary Harry Roque initially reacted to the EU announcement? Perhaps, Villanueva believes that it is during times of criticisms that one should show their loyalty to the President’s signature program.
I have seen this kind of thing before not only in previous administrations but especially during the martial law period. There are certainly some similarities with what happened in the government bureaucracy in previous administrations and what is happening now. There are public officials who are more driven in their pursuit of ambition than others. These are the people who are more willing to go the extra mile than simply being good and loyal civil public servants.
For those going the extra mile however, even if they get the pie that they are aspiring for, there will be costs to be paid in the long run.
For instance, when martial law finally ended, there were those in government who were never employed again and hounded because of their past deeds. They also could not get a visa to travel overseas to immigrate or visit family members. With the country in the midst of a serious diplomatic engagement, perhaps, DG Villanueva should have just kept his mouth shut so as not to aggravate the situation.
Even President Duterte, who we know has always been combative, found it necessary to tone down his virtual speech in his first address to the United Nations General Assembly. He was praised for this. Sometimes, prudence is the better part of valor.
I cannot guess the motivation of DG Villanueva, but issuing that statement caused more harm than good. I also do not know whether he realizes the seriousness of the current diplomatic problem that the country is in due to the number of Filipinos killed because of the controversial anti-drug war.
Whether we like it or not, the anti-drug campaign has harmed the international reputation of the country.
There is no denying the evil that illegal drugs do to the country. It corrupts public officials and destroys families. But success cannot only be measured by the number of people killed but a combination of many factors like the elimination of supply, education and rehabilitation. Good Police intelligence is also essential.
Sometimes, senior officials must have the capability to discern when and when not to do or say things. That is one mark of a good leader, subordinate and a team player. In a way, DG Villanueva is different from his predecessor who was more circumspect, careful and guarded in issuing public statements. Villanueva appear to be more aggressive and perhaps more align to the kind of language favored by the President.
The President has still less than two years to go before he relinquishes his position but I suspect that his anti-drug campaign will continue with undiminished intensity. I hope our law enforcement agencies, together with PDEA, will wage a campaign in a manner that will generate praises rather than condemnation. Right now, what the country needs are more friends on our side not enemies. We have to be smart enough to figure out who our real friends and who our real enemies are. We must beware of Greeks bearing gifts. They might not be our friends at all.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought havoc to our lives. Our economy is in the worst recession in more than two decades and we are not sure how long it will take for our country to recover notwithstanding the assurances of our political leaders.
It is therefore not wise to antagonize countries that can help us in our hour of need. What is being asked, after all, is for us to simply follow enforcement practices that conform more to internationally accepted police practices.