Thursday, October 19, 2006 Ledesma: A deadlier enemy By Jun Ledesma Sunbursts
BY THE looks of it the drug menace appears to be more threatening than the secessionist and insurgency problems in Mindanao. Mayor Rody Duterte has given us a grim picture of how extensive and intensive the operation of illegal drug syndicate is in Mindanao. We need leaders like him who are made of sterner stuff and guts to combat drug operations. But their number is so few.
Mayor Duterte was offered P200-million bribe by a member of the drug syndicate in exchange for his life and maybe for the continued operations of their illicit trade in Davao. I am reminded of the lord Mafioso Al Capone, who arrogantly said at the height of his trial that, "every one has a price." Meaning everybody can be bought. And this he said in reference to Justice Warren whom he wrongly thought can be bought. In his memoirs later, the good justice wrote that he prayed so hard to God to keep his values intact because the offer was increasing and it was approaching his price! Of course Justice Warren said that in jest in consideration for the fact that some people may not be able to resist temptation.
Fighting insurgency or the belligerent secessionist fronts is an ideological and racial war. The contenders do not lose their sanity. They use persuasion and bullets or they can come to terms and peace. They are soldiers and revolutionaries. Fighting the opiate of drugs is a different war altogether.
The victims are mostly young people. Duterte said that the moment they sniff shabu are hooked to it and then later have to peddle the drug themselves to sustain their needs for the opiate. They live but they lose every bit of their moral fiber, their values, their conscience. Mayor Rody describe them as "zombies."
In an open admission the Mayor who is not lacking in earnest determination confessed that it is extremely difficult to eradicate drug trafficking. The drug money flows copiously whenever and wherever needed to let the illicit trade continue.
If Malacañang is listening to Duterte, they ought to take a more decisive step to completely eradicate drug trafficking. Those PDEA agents who stole several kilos of shabu from the vault where evidences are kept should be hung by the balls. Maybe a special military operations is needed to fight this out. This is a new front much deadlier than those who bear arms and slogans on placards. Duterte and a few good men cannot do this alone.
