Now that NAPOLCOM and the PNP filed criminal charges against two police generals and 48 police officers over the 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7-B before the Ombudsman o the MOLEO (Military and other law enforcement offices), people are in “bated breath” on whether real justice will hit hard on the culprits. Administrative complaints are being conducted by NAPOLCOM and in the next 15 days, we will know if these errant officers will be retained, reprimanded or dismissed from the service. DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos says these charges stemmed from the separate investigation conducted by NAPOLCOM and the Special Investigation Task Force Group 990, headed by its chairman Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz.
Former PNP Chief, now Sen. Bato de La Rosa, chair of the Senate Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Committee, also completed his public hearings citing a massive attempt to cover up the arrest of police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. and the subsequent pilferage of drugs. De La Rosa referred to a certain drug personality named Mike Sy, the alleged number-one shabu trader in the country who can unmask the involvement of high ranking cops in drugs. But today, it is still unknown when Senator Bato will include this and release his committee report.
At the House of Representatives, tandem Cong. Robert Ace Barbers and Reynaldo Acop exposed the conflicting and circuitous narrations of the accused drug cops. Both questioned whether the PNP were seriously alarmed of the drug problem or if they made real effort to find the source of the 990 kilos shabu. “How come that a non-commissioned officer like Mayo could have stashed illegal drugs worth P6.7 B?, they asked.
If former President Rodrigo Duterte had his way, all police officers involved in the illegal drug trade should be shot dead instead of being put behind bars. In his weekly TV program on SMNI, Duterte dared the entire Philippine National Police (PNP) to resign, accusing the agency of being the “gatekeeper” of illegal drug trade in the country. “You know there are many hoodlums who have entered the police force, even the colonels now and those who became generals. “The volume is one too many, How many police personnel are involved?, he said. “At one time, maybe I will announce all the names of those whom I believe are corrupt and involved in illegal drugs.”
Duterte said the “best way to deal” with these police officers is to kill them. “Don’t bring them to court. Shoot them dead. Observe due process? Why would I keep you alive?”. If he were still president, Duterte said he would order the whole police force to surrender all issued and illegal firearms within 24 hours and let the military take over the operations against illegal drugs.
In reaction, SILG Benhur Abalos assured former President Rodrigo Duterte and the public that it is acting on the issue of the alleged drug ties of some police officers. “I would like to assure the public, our former president, that we are doing our job here right now,” says Abalos.
The 990 kilos of shabu were seized nearly nine months ago, and yet the source and the “real culprits” remain anonymous, and scot-free. Meanwhile, our peoples trust on the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as main protectors against illegal drugs, is seriously damaged and maybe beyond repair. Yes, there are only a few corrupt cops and the majority are good cops in the entire organization. But, please answer the peoples’ question; “Why can’t the majority of these good cops put to jail and stop these few corrupt members from further damaging their credibility?
VAPE smoking will kill our youth
Despite the controversial lapsing into law of the controversial “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Registration act , the fight to protect our people against nicotine and similar products should not stop. In 2021, there are 2.7 million Filipinos or 3 percent of the world’s vape users in the country despite its risks of asthma, lung scarring, organ damage and addiction. In the 2019 Global youth tobacco survey, 14.1 percent of Filipino students between 13 and 15 are currently using electronic cigarettes.
Vape regulations are covered by Republic Act 11900 which breezed through the 18th Congress under legal but surreptitious circumstances. Legislators argued that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is in the best position to regulate vapes and HTPs (Heated tobacco products) because they are “consumer products- an electronic product, “not medicine.” Another said, novel tobacco products do not have pharmaceutical claims and should, therefore, be under the DTI. The Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Education and dozens of medical associations strongly opposed the measure saying this puts at Tish the health of our people and the of future generations.
Despite five months of preparation, the bill was submitted to Pres. Duterte’s office just three days before his term ended, and therefore had no time to veto it. This automatically went to incoming President Bongbong Marcos Jr for action.. But on July 25 last year , Malacañang announced it has lapsed into law. The DTI has finished crafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) last December and this will be effective 18 months after July last year to January 2024.
This means that to many us , parents, the horror and danger on the health and lives of our Filipino youth is at hand. Imagine, Vape is considered by this government as an “electronic product” not as a serious health hazard”. Unlike cigarettes, which are tagged “ Smoking kills”, VAPE products are clean and looks groovy to kids. Critics of this law are even proposing to raise to 25 years old the minimum age for vaping products but the under the new IRR, the former minimum age of 21 was even lowered to 18 years old.
I hope legislators , both in the Senate and the House of Representatives can, sleep soundly on this VAPE issue. Honestly, it is disgusting. (end)