Pubdate: Wed, 20 Jul 2016
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines)
Copyright: 2016 Philippine Daily Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.inquirer.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1073
Author: Henrico H. Laceda

BUT DID WAILING KIN REALLY CARE FOR ALLEGED DRUG PUSHERS?

ALMOST every day, we are being treated to spectacles on TV where 
relatives of alleged drug pushers are seen crying and wailing over 
their violent deaths in the hands of narcotic agents or policemen, 
and protesting the manner by which their loved ones were 
"terminated"-"Pinatay na parang baboy, eh, sumurender na nga!"

The questions we have to ask are: How many years have those relatives 
known of the nefarious activities of those pushers and remained quiet 
about what they knew and, worse, while benefiting from the fruits of 
their crimes? How many lives have those pushers ruined over the years 
( including my own son's)? If those relatives really cared for them 
that much as they now seem in front of TV cameras, how come they 
never did anything to make them stop? They were warned many months ago!

Even assuming some were just being silenced for fear of spilling the 
beans on law enforcers complicit in their criminal activities, did 
those relatives really not see it coming when then presidential 
candidate Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly promised to "kill" those who 
don't stop dealing in drugs or have them killed one way or the other? 
Regardless of the reason, a kill is a kill and that counts for more 
lowlifes erased from the face of this planet.

All these years, there was only lip service paid to the campaign 
against the drug menace in this country. With very highly-placed 
military officials and well-entrenched politicos cosseting drug lords 
who were so generous to them beyond their wildest dreams, was it ever 
any wonder that the campaign never really got off the ground? (The 
drug runners at the bottom of the totem pole had never had it so 
good.) For heaven's sake, how could drug lords continue doing 
business while doing life at the New Bilibid Prisons without the 
higher-ups in previous administrations having any clue about it?

The drug lords, their minions and protectors probably thought Duterte 
was just like any politician-just kidding around with empty promises. 
Well, they were dead wrong-and, hopefully, will be dead soon! Yes, we 
have seen all those tears profusely shed on TV, but as far as many of 
us are concerned, it's good riddance. More than 100 down, thousands 
more to go... But give it time, it's only been just a few weeks since 
Duterte wielded the instruments of war against drugs.

- -Henrico H. Laceda,  ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom