Existence of narco-politics
The arrest of three members of the San Fernando Municipal Council only proves that despite the government’s aggressive campaign against illegal drugs, there are a lot of public officials, who are involved in the illegal drug trade.
Arrested over the weekend by virtue of search warrants implemented by elements of the Regional Special Operations Group were Councilors Edwin Villaver, Alfonso Donaire IV and Association of Barangay Council president and ex- officio member Johnny Arriesgado.
Confiscated from the possession of Villaver and Donaire were sachets of shabu and unregistered firearms of various calibers. While confiscated from Arriesgado was an unregistered .45 pistol.
Another councilor was also the subject of the same operation but when lawmen went to his residence, the official’s entire family was nowhere to be found. Authorities are withholding his identity pending arrest.
PRO 7 Director Noli Taliño said the subjects are collaborators of self- confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones, brother of San Fernando Vice Mayor Fralz Sabalones.
Franz surrendered to PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa last year upon the prodding of his brother. His whereabouts now are not known. It’s also not know if he has stopped his illegal drug trade business.
Since the councilors are considered underlings of Franz only means that the latter is still active in the illegal drug trade. However, the three denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade, claiming that they are even in the frontline of the town’s anti-drug campaign. Well, we will give them the benefit of the doubt.
San Fernando Mayor Lakambini ‘Neneth’ Reluya was shocked and saddened by the news. Although the three councilors were in the opposition’s lineup during last year’s elections, Reluya said they’ve been cooperating with her administration. Reluya said “let the law take its own course.”
Despite President Duterte’s campaign to wipe out illegal drugs and to stop “narco-politics,” a lot of politicians are still involved in illegal drugs. This is a big slap to the faces of people, who voted them into office. These politicians ran for public office not to do any public service or to serve their constituents but to protect and promote their illegal drug businesses.
The Heritage Foundation, an institution engaged in global policy analysis, defines narco-politics “as the abuse of of power to achieve wealth through drug trade and the abuse of power to achieve power, using corruption to seal political alliances and corruption which makes the wheels of bureaucracy turn.”
Narco-politics in the country is present, especially during elections. Some government officials allegedly use narcotics to bribe people to be under their power. It can be seen that narco-politics is something our government should monitor because the practice is serious and dangerous, involving big amounts of money These drug lords are not afraid to engage in this kind of trade.
The San Fernando case will also serve as a lesson to or wakeup call for people not to vote for politicians who have dubious personalities. They should reject politicians, who are linked to the illegal drug trade, either as a drug protector or a drug lord. Dili man na matago diha sa ilang lugar kung ang maong mga pulitiko nahilambigit sa illegal nga drugas. Wala may aso nga makumkom. Diha sa Carcar City ay, daghan na diha.