By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
REALLY, the City of Bacolod and Province of Negros Occidental have “cancer illnesses” beyond cure. Shabu business continues to put the “City of Smiles” in chagrin. The “cancerous” Army-New People’s Army (NPA) tiff in Negros Island is decimating investors’ trust. These seem to be “incurable headaches” for Mayor Albee Benitez and Gov. Bong Lacson.
Are there solutions? Let’s dissect the “meat of the matter.”
AWE-INSPIRING PROMISE
When Mayor Albee took his oath of office nearly a year now, one of his awe-inspiring promises in front of thousands of Bacolodnons was to put an end to crimes, including illegal drugs. The tyro mayor got a rousing applause from the audience.
Lo and behold, month after month after month from July 2022 to date, shabu raids-slash confiscations continue to besmirch the city’s image. Hence, the term “shabulized Bacolod”.
The latest event serving as proof to this nasty tag was the P5.44 M-shabu raid in Purok Villa Lourdes, Barangay Pahanocoy early morning of Sunday (June 18). Operatives of the Philippine National Police – Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations (PNP-DEGSO) Unit 6 conducted the break-in that led to the arrest of suspected high-value target (HVT) Rene Lapera Jr.
Immediately after, Police Regional Office 6 director Brigadier General Sidfrey Villaflor hailed his men for a “job well done”.
‘MASSACRE DE KANGKILING’
In the province, Gov. Bong was compelled to issue an official statement evening of June 16 or two days after the infamous “Massacre de Kangkiling” in Himamaylan City.
The massacre took place in Sitio Kangkiling, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City midnight of June 14. Four members of the Fausto family – couple Rolly and Emilda, and their sons Ben and Raben – were shot to death.
Irked but composed still, the governor said, “The massacre of innocent civilians was an outrage to our morals, our values, and our commitment to peace and justice.”
“I strongly condemn that massacre!” he punctuated, adding, “Such brutality that threatens to destabilize our province and destroy the peace of our people has no place in our society.”
HORRIBLE ACT
The governor appealed to all Negrenses to be united in condemning violence.
“Together, let us sustain and protect the gains of our collective efforts for a more peaceful and progressive province,” he furthered.
Too, he asked law enforcers (Army and Police) in the province to lead an in-depth investigation.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is also “dipping its fingers” in the incident.
The Army and NPA have had started trading barbs. The NPA via its Leonardo Panaligan Command (LPC) accused the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion as behind the massacre.
Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, commanding officer of the 94th IB, in a phone interview, vehemently denied such accusation.
FAIR PROBE
So, who killed the Faustos using 53 slugs?
“We can’t do that,” Almonte said, adding, “We’re expecting a fair probe from the CHR.”
Confessed by Almonte, Rolly was their “asset” who supposedly wanted to facilitate the surrender of the in-laws of his daughter who are members of the NPA.
Beyond that, Almonte said, he can’t ascertain who killed the family and what the motive was.
But the governor wished: “Those guilty must be brought to justice as soon as possible!”
POLITIQUE DU VENTRE
Curtly, in my personal view, the problematic shabu trading in Bacolod and the never-ending insurgency in Negros have a common denominator: Politique du Ventre, French term for “Politics of the Belly”.
People tend to succumb to the “evil” of both problems because they’re hungry.
There’s money in shabu trading. The poor are willing to “bite the bullet” just to earn money.
As for the insurgency problem, there’s angst against government’s neglect.
So, both problems are directly or indirectly causing “lingering societal debilities.” Laxity to solve both is close to a “political disaster”.
So, Mayor Albee and Gov. Bong must ponder on Albert Eintein’s wisdom: “An empty stomach is not a good political adviser.”
And even St. Jerome of Stridom once emphasized: “When the stomach is full, it is easy to talk of fasting.”
Above all, let’s settle on what world-renowned Haitian priest-turned-politician Jean-Bertrand Aristide had verbalized: “Peace in the head, peace in the stomach.”/PN
