‘As a humane move to Duterte’s palpable indifference to the plight of drug addicts needing rehabilitation and restoration, Marcos stressed that his government’s drug rehabilitation program will be “more sensitive and more sympathetic to those who actually have gotten caught up in this lifestyle…”’
PRESIDENT Marcos Jr.’s order for the PNP to go after the drug lords and not the small fry in the illegal drugs trade was certainly a welcome one. The drug business continues to prosper despite former President Duterte’s bloody drug war, which often targeted the small fry in depressed communities.
The President’s words in his meeting with PNP officials: “I want you to go after people, who if we get them, if we neutralize them, or put them in jail, we put them away, whatever it is, we will make an actual difference so that the supply of drugs, the system of distribution, the system of importation of drugs because much of it really does come from abroad. That will actually make a difference, it will put a stop to it.”
However, the President cannot expect anything substantial unless he orders a revamp of station commanders, especially in areas where drug incidence had been quite low and yet brutal operations had persisted. Targeting the big fishes, or the drug lords, should have been the tactical move in the first day of the war against illegal drugs.
As a humane move to Duterte’s palpable indifference to the plight of drug addicts needing rehabilitation and restoration, Marcos stressed that his government’s drug rehabilitation program will be “more sensitive and more sympathetic to those who actually have gotten caught up in this lifestyle… pulling them out of that culture and help(ing) them start again and to live a good life as good and contributing members of society.”
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Filipinos should not just consign to history, or the dust bin, the essence of the People Power Revolt that swept Cory Aquino to the presidency and restored our democratic institutions.
It took Ninoy Aquino’s ultimate sacrifice to make these come about.
We should show an enduring gratitude to his selfless and shining legacy and extend it towards his beloved family, especially the ailing Kris Aquino. Her serious medical condition presents us a rare opportunity to exhibit our respect to her late father, as well as continued acknowledgment of his heroism. Several people, including Kris’ detractors, have thankfully stopped the public bashing against her.
Through the years, we have reaped the benefits of Ninoy’s return as he answered the call of patriotism. The Christian martyr that he was, Ninoy repeatedly stated in news interviews in the United States that he was prepared to be arrested and jailed again or to be shot and killed upon arriving in Manila. The latter he welcomed because it would bring him to Jesus Christ and be with him for all eternity. He made a glorious revelation: “I had nothing to lose.”
Shouldn’t we reach out to Kris during this very difficult time in her life to show that her countrymen care enough for her as our earnest tribute to her late father and help provide fervent prayers and companionship, as well as financial assistance as her substantial earnings as a popular TV celebrity continue to dwindle?
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A fellow Church member, a very able Bible group and devoted Christian leader of the Christ Commission Fellowship (CCF) in Marikina, Tony Kuizon, passed away a few weeks back. He had struggled for almost five years with kidney and heart problems.
Despite his condition that had taken him in and out of hospitals, he was relentless in his work and admirably supportive of the personal, family and financial problems of many in the CCF, especially the members of his Bible study group. One’s family problem would become his.
Tony would care for a wayward teen of a group member like a son or a sick spouse, like a brother or sister, giving up much of his time and money for which he expected nothing in return.
His wife, Loi, was the ever-caring and devoted half who stood by him during the wrenching days, and she herself has been equally selfless with the plight of distressed church members. Tony’s life indeed shone as a vessel of Christ’s kindness, compassion, generosity and righteousness.
