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Saturday, March 4, 2017
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CAN THE Philippine National Police (PNP) effectively cleanse itself of drug-connected, corruption-riddled officers in its ranks?
Corruption within the police organization has been laid bare. The PNP chief himself estimated that 40 percent of his forces are tainted and almost an equal number was cited by the President as having connection or participation in the illegal drug-trade. Until this is addressed, resuming the so-called war on drugs will always be met with suspicion and its credibility questioned.
Yes, we have a serious problem with illegal drugs, but the very people who have positioned themselves to eradicate the drug menace are actually part of the problem. We are aware that this problem had been allowed to exist and the inaction and misconduct of past administrations exacerbated the situation. This allowed for the proliferation of poverty and the drug-trade. Now, under the Duterte administration, it has again been exposed.
Those who project themselves as enforcing the law, while actually undermining the welfare of the people, are detestable. The full force of the law as well as all available corrective administrative and legal remedies must be used against them. Any coddling of government police, military, officials, or employees — both present and from previous administrations — must be held liable. This is how government should show its seriousness in tackling the drug problem.
Corrective and legal measures against those involved with illegal drugs must also be pursued. Illegal drug producers and suppliers and drug syndicate kingpins must be swiftly identified, charged, convicted, and incarcerated; these criminals, as well as those protecting them, belong in jail.
But that is only half of the task. Rehabilitation centers for small-time drug offenders (that is, users and simple peddlers) should be established and expanded. And most importantly, we must have the guts to address the vulnerabilities that propel people toward drug-use and small-time peddling. Alleviating poverty and providing opportunities for productive participation in local economies will go much farther than hell-bent executions and so-called neutralization of small-time drug users and peddlers.
The use and sale of illegal drugs must be condemned. Past administrations that allowed the development and institutionalization of narco-politics in the Philippines must be held to account. But on the same breath, the flagrant abuse of State power to induce and proliferate widespread killing, harassment and sowing of terror in poor communities under a so-called “war against drugs” must be denounced. Due process and the rule of law are in danger of being easily laid aside due to the urgency of our nation’s illegal drug problem, and this will further worsen the situation. We reject this path to destruction.
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