By ERWIN ‘AMBO’DELILAN
FETING Police Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, chief of police in Silay City, Negros Occidental, as this year’s “Dangal ng Bayan” awardee by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Western Visayas ain’t surprising. He deserved such.
He’s a “rare breed” in the police service – simple, humble yet highly credible.
A true-blooded Silaynon, Colonel Darroca’s name rings a bell in the orb of illegal drug syndicates in Negros.
His family name is already synonymous to anti-illegal drug operations, and for over nine years in this tricky trade, he’s able to keep it untarnished.
Tested, tempted, but opted to remain “uncorrupted”.
‘APELYEDO LANG’
It’s a privilege to interview this guy in my radio program on Radyo Negrense.
One of my “weighty” questions: What’s his shield in saying “NO” to temptation?
Candid as he is, his simple retort: “Darroca!”
Why?
“Apelyedo lang, Sir! Bangud siling sang akon mga ginikanan, wala man kami sang manggad magluwas lamang sa amon apelyedo. Ti, kon higku-an ko pa, wala na gid may mabilin sa amon,” he said in Hiligaynon.
Yes, Colonel Darroca confided that he was even asked point blank: Pila presyo mo, Sir?
He, however, stressed he was thankful to his parents for instilling in him the moral fiber of living morally upright at all times.
“Yes, I was challenged, tested and tempted, but, you know, I have to stand kon ano ang prinsipyo ko sa kabuhi. Tindugan ko nga indi ko magbaton (drug money),” he said.
“Because it’s my conviction: Ginpa-eskwela ko sang gobyerno sa Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), so, ibalik ko lang ang husto nga serbisyo sa pumuluyo,” he added. “Ang matinuod-tuuron lang nga serbisyo nga wala sang simbog nga indi amo.”
LIKE ANSLINGER
Hearing his rationale, it then flashed back to my memory the book of Harry Jacob Anslinger titled “The Murderers: The Shocking Story of the Narcotic Gangs”.
There, Anslinger, America’s famous anti-drug czar, vividly narrated some of the important historical works he made that documented the development of the “War on Drugs” in America.
One of the most amazing things about this book is Anslinger’s no-holds-barred revelation how drug money corrupts law enforcement, the judiciary and politicians.
Worse, Anslinger said, drugs were even used as part of a system of organized crime and global political extortion that includes prostitution, drug running and other criminal enterprises.
‘MAJOR, MAJOR’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Therefore, Negros – or Silay in particular – must be grateful to have the likes of Colonel Darroca.
Aside from honing his skills in the delicate “purchase of intelligence” leading to an effective anti-drug operation, this seasoned anti-drug cop is also “more than passionate” with his duties and responsibilities.
His previous “incomparable records” as anti-drug unit head in San Carlos City Police, the defunct Negros Island Region (NIR) and Police Regional Office 6 will vouch his uprightness.
Highlighting his stint as the newest chief of police of Silay (in just three months) were the series of drug raids that led to the confiscation of more than P28-million worth of suspected shabu.
The neutralization of the Divinagracia drug ring and the latest arrest of the Dumdumaya siblings tagged as “shabu bodegeros” in Silay were also credited to Colonel Darroca’s “major, major” accomplishments.
Silay City’s Mayor Joedith Gallego couldn’t ask for more.
“Halin sa umpisa sang June 27, 2022 asta subong, maayo gid ang performance n’ya (Colonel Darroca), ilabi na sa kampanya batok illegal drugs kag peace and order,” the mayor stressed.
So, exclaimed the local chief executive, “Debuenas gid ang Silay!”
The war on drugs is tedious and infamous. But Colonel Darroca’s simple resolve: “To become a good and responsible citizen is enough!”
And having no “iniquitous desire” to enrich himself, he confidently said he survived the nine years (as anti-drug cop) full of temptations.
What a gentleman and a police officer, indeed! As stressed by Frederick W. Faber, a noted English hymn writer and theologian, “Every moment of resistance to temptation is a victory.”
CSC, therefore, didn’t err in choosing Colonel Darroca a “Dangal ng Bayan” awardee./PN
