HERE we go again. Every time the elections near also come talks about narco-politics. Meaning that, instead of considering the war against narco-politics as a continuous undertaking, authorities treat it as a seasonal one, or a once-every-three-years affair.
That the illegal drugs problem has worsened is a no brainer. It is obvious. And that it has not been solved or at least eased could make one suspect that the illegal drugs trade enjoys the protection of people in government—specifically politicians and law enforcers. Or if its players are not being protected, at least they try to ingratiate themselves with them. They do this using the money they are earning from the trade.
The most common complaint is, of course, about law enforcers being bribed by illegal drug traders so they would either go easy with the campaign against illegal drugs or hamper it. We don't hear much about elective officials protecting the illegal drugs trade because the arrangement is more subtle. Mere inaction, or not lifting a finger, can't be immediately seen as protecting illegal drug traders. And the bribing of these elective officials may only come in the form of funding their electoral campaigns.
The officer-in-charge of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), Senior Supt. Clifford Gairanod, has expressed the worry that narcotics money would flow in the May elections. As a result, at least five municipalities and two component cities are being monitored because of suspicions some officials there have links with traders of illegal drugs. But by “links” it looks like he only means these officials, some of them mayors, are friends with these illegal drugs trade personalities.
It would be interesting to also monitor how this “monitoring” will pan out. There is reason to be pessimistic about its outcome but Gairanod can be given the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the move can send a message to these public officials to distance themselves from suspected illegal drug traders. As to whether the links can be established with certainty and charges filed, that's another thing altogether.
The sad part is when all these remain in the realm of talk and are forgotten after the elections.