Nothing new at BOC
MANY, even non-lawyers, have become experts in law after the raid conducted by the police that killed Ozamiz City Mayor Aldong Parojinog, members of his family and men believed to be his bodyguards.
A search warrant can be served at anytime of the day and even at night, especially if the subject is armed and dangerous. This is one of the exceptions in the serving of a search warrant.
Worse, some media personalities point to Ozamiz City Police Chief Jovie Espenido, who only assisted the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) that enforced the court order.
The late mayor Parojinog should have known it was coming after the second Sona of President Duterte. He was one of the public officials he mentioned after Duterte took his oath last year.
What most upright persons asked— why only lowly pushers and users met their fate— has been answered. Big fishes in the illegal drugs trade have been put to rest.
Of course, we don’t take pleasure in seeing body bags in every police operation. But cops have the right to protect their own. They enjoy the presumptions of regularity in the performance of their duties.
••• The fiasco on the entry of P6.4 billion worth of illegal drugs through the Manila Customs showed that even with President Duterte at the helm corruption in this agency is still prevalent.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, wondered how the drugs from China passed through the Custom’s express lane undetected.
Perhaps, we can say that it’s better late than never for Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to seize in Valenzuela City the shabu from China after it breezed through the Customs port.
It’s not only Commissioner Faeldon who should be made to answer for this fiasco. Every personnel involved in its release, if found guilty, should be dismissed and charged in court.
A friend, who wished not to be named, said that nothing has changed whoever sits in the Customs port anywhere, even under Duterte. That gave us the impression that corrupt practices are still on the go.
Faedon claimed that President Duterte still trusts him, but won’t he order later the total overhaul of the BOC considering that the fiasco is a huge letdown in his war against illegal drugs?