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BY JUN VELASCO
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February 17, 2018
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IT WAS providential that one of the country’s promising congressmen, Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte, has quietly but dramatically, taken the lead in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Yes, the scourge has not yet been licked convincingly, to everyone’s chagrin.
In our book, there is nothing more insidious than this heart-breaking concern that’s eating up the sinews of our youth and nation. The future looks bleak because of this carnage.
This is why we, the nation, lustily rejoiced with the heroic battlecry against the menace by a no-nonsense leader, our popularly-elected President Duterte… yes, to end it once and for all. Yes, he has begun the heroic fight, which has yet to be won.
That fact that he meant what he said is good enough to inspire a distraught citizenry. No president of this country has got balls like the President has, so to speak.
We call Congressman Barbers’ up-front seat against the illegal drugs providential because the campaign is in the family’s bloodline.
His late father, former senator Bobby Barbers, was a valiant cop whose criminality campaign in Manila was legend. Ace’s ascent in the drive, therefore, is perfect.
Ace’s designation as House of Representatives’ chairman of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs fits him to a T.
Last week’s symposium in Lingayen for high school and college students which had Congressman Ace and Cong. Leopoldo Bataoil, himself a former Philippine National Police deputy director, in face-to-face dialogue with the nation’s future leaders, repositioned the national outcry against the menace.
The symposium zeroed in on drumming up awareness and prevention among students and faculty members of the Pangasinan State University, being a part of a series of symposia including two universities in Vigan and Bacnotan in La Union.
A lively exchange brought out eye-opening revelations from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Barbers now leads in crafting out laws that would upgrade and freshen up our current anti-drug laws, like amending the loopholes under Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, where some provisions are being used by drug users, pushers and drug lords to escape prosecution.
We were delighted by this report: “Barber’s panel had also investigated, in aid of legislation, the P6.4-billion shabu shipment which passed thru the Bureau of Customs and seized in Valenzuela City on May 2017; the raided Catanduanes shabu lab that can produce 500 kgs of shabu per week; and the illegal drug trade in Zamboanga del Norte.
His committee has held hearings attended by representatives from PDEA, PNP, DDB, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Education and other concerned agencies that tackled issues, problems and challenges in the campaign.
The symposia precisely targets the youth among the high school and college students, because these are prime targets of drug pushers.”
With Barbers at center court of the drive, we’re sure our youth would now be out there to finish off the enemy.
There were in the past, mistakes — alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations — condemnable acts by erring police officers vis-a-vis Oplan Tokhang, but the issues are now being addressed more seriously with no less than President Duterte ordering the PNP particularly to review and revise them strategy.
Coming from battle-scarred Mindanao, where incidentally – or providentially? – the President comes from, “would-be” Senator Barbers is expected to make a difference. Young and good-looking, he has the brains, the energy and character of a leader the country needs. (juanitomvelasco@yahoo.com/PN)
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