Pacete: Duterte, Mabilog and Espenido

THIS is not about a love triangle. We really don’t know the end of the story with these three characters. The setting is in Western Visayas… in the “most shabulized Iloilo City.” It is perceived by President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte that there is the reign of illegal drugs in Iloilo City.

We are just opening a new chapter for Iloilo City drug story. We still have to see sub-plots until we reach the climax. If it ends with a happy compromise, then that could be a comedy. If the story runs with blood and tears… and somebody dies (or even more), that could be a tragedy… or could even be horrible tragedy.

President Digong (a.k.a The Punisher) has identified Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City as “among the government officials involved in illegal drugs.” He assigned Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido not just to focus on Mabilog alone, but to be a part of his government that worked hard for the prevention of drugs and the rehabilitation of the victims. The order of President Digong is very clear. “Just follow the rules of engagement.”

For some media men and political opponents of Mabilog in Iloilo, he is not a drug lord but simply “appears very friendly to the drug lords especially in the past” (as alleged). Some claim that before… he was “suplado” but when Duterte was elected president, he gradually started to become “mabuot.” He was always mentioned in the previous speeches of President Digong.

“Why would you be a drug protector? If you are not contented of your salary then leave. Be a drug lord instead.” The President sounded those words for Mayor Mabilog as if fire was coming from his nostrils. For the President, Mayor Mabilog is as popular as Mayor Rolando Espinosa and Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog. Many don’t believe that.

When I was still tourism officer of Silay, I was given the opportunity to rub elbows with Mayor Mabilog. I admired him making Iloilo City beautiful… more attractive to local and foreign tourists. His cultural programs are very strong and he works closely with the Department of Tourism in Region 6. He even invited Silay City to participate in the Kasadyahan Festival (as part of Dinagyang). He also visited Silay to meet his relatives and friends here.

With Espenido around, we hope that Mabilog can prove what he wanted to prove since Espenido has been reminded by President Digong to simply follow lawful exercise on the mandate. Let us pray that things will turn out to be right because Iloilo City is not the Municipality of Albuera and not Ozamis City.

We do not want to believe also that Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido is the “Dirty Harry” of the Philippine National Police with a fate that wherever he is assigned, he carries a “Death Wish.” When in Iloilo, probably he can do some investigative efforts with the local media men doing their own investigative reporting in the assets and liabilities of Mayor Mabilog with a focus on his attractive “White House.”

Probably Espenido will also find out why Mayor Mabilog has been alleged to be very friendly with the averred drug lords of Iloilo. How is illegal drug trade able to spread its roots in Iloilo politics? Espenido will soon find out that those who are in that circle is not only Mabilog, but some other politicians also including those who run the barangays.

We also expect that Espenido will soon discover why many policemen in Iloilo have their “vow of silence.” Is it from the top to the bottom? Espenido has to know the bottom of it… including some Iloilo media men who were there when the drug lords “spread the sunshine.” Narco-politics is really that addicting especially when election time is approaching.

President Digong strongly reminded Espenido, “Murder and homicide or whatever unlawful killing is not allowed.” The President is perfectly correct but he forgets that in the name of drugs… bad politicians, drug lords, protectors, rotten policemen, pushers, and addicts can always commit suicide. If they do that, Espenido has nothing to do with that.

Espenido can make it fast and clean for his next promotion and reassignment. After Iloilo… where? General “Bato” will soon retire or resign. He will run for Senate in 2019. Espenido by stroke of fate could become the replacement for General “Bato.” We will further read the next chapter of the “Grand Zarzuela in Iloilo.”

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