NORMALLY, at this time of the year, I stop writing about the “bad” stuff and focus on the “good.” But it’s easier said than done.
Since Rodrigo Duterte took over the reins of Malacañang, criminality nationwide has been in the spotlight. No more sweeping under the rug the ills that plague society. No more ignoring the elephant in the room.
It’s now so in your face. So close, in fact, that you could smell what it had for breakfast. (Oh, in case you’re wondering, it had sunny side-up eggs, bacon, buttered toast and a hint of dried anchovies.)
Take for instance, the latest drug haul on Urgello St. in Sitio Tambis, Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City.
On Friday night, Nov. 30, operatives of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Guadalupe Police Station arrested Michael Pacilan Carabaña, a 28-year-old resident of Barangay Basak Pardo, and his cohorts Jemuel Enrile, a 24-year-old resident of Cansojong, Talisay City; and Arnold Pacong Arquiza, 37, and Agustin Regis Quijano, 34. Arquiza and Quijano are from Barangay Quiot, Cebu City.
Police seized more than three pounds of suspected shabu from the four suspects. We’re talking about illegal drugs with an estimated street value of P36.3 million.
According to initial investigation, Carabaña is a drug surrenderer, while Enrile is on the Talisay police’s drug watchlist.
If you noticed, all the suspects are not from Sambag 2.
Apparently, Carabaña, who was the subject of the operation, moved in to the barangay three weeks ago after things got too hot for him in Pardo.
He was placed under surveillance after an informant of the Guadalupe Police Station reported that someone was selling illegal drugs in bulk in the barangay.
It appeared that Carabaña’s business was not confined to Cebu City. He also supplied illegal drugs in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.
Police said the shabu came from Luzon.
So this latest drug haul brings the total of drugs seized for the month of November in Cebu City to close to P90 million.
I didn’t come up with the figures, by the way. That came from Senior Supt. Royina Garma, the Cebu City Police Office director.
Again, I’m amazed that despite the rising number of dead in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, there are still people who continue to throw caution to the wind.
Seriously, don’t they know that Duterte is dead serious--no pun intended--in tackling the problem head-on?
But Garma has a theory.
“So in less than a month, it’s almost P90 million (worth of shabu seized) siguro. So, ibig sabihin maraming gumagamit dito (That means many people are using drugs). ‘Yan ‘yung sinasabi ko na may market (That’s what I have been saying about having a market). So dapat gawan din natin ng paraan paano ma-eliminate ang market (So we need to do something to eliminate the market),” said the police official.
So I guess if you eliminate the demand then the supply will tend to fall? Is that what she’s saying? Is that how it even works?
Now you know why I prefer to write about “roses and lollipops and lollipops and roses” during this Yuletide season.