Secret jails for Filipino drug suspects and Possible Reinstatement for Arrested "Druggie" Cop

The discovery of a secret jail cell for alleged drug-related suspects in Tondo Manila reminds one of the notorious secret stockades and jails during the Marcos martial law regime.

A report by the Philippine Inquirer probably shocked many Filipinos, but to some of us who survived the Marcos dictatorship era, that secret cell housing 12 crime suspects at Raxabago station's drug enforcement unit in Tondo Manila, is not entirely novel idea. During Martial law, thousands were incarcerated in secret stockades and jails by the Philippine Constabulary who was back then, served as the police forces of Mr. Marcos. During those darkest hours, rich people arrested for drug offenses enjoy the air-conditioned offices of police officers while many poor folks were herded like pigs to dirty little rooms where these people were kept. Inside these so-called jails, people report being subjected to tortures, rapes and other despicable horrors.

It is therefore, revolting to know that such practices of jailing suspects still exists, after 30 years of so-called "democracy" under this neo-liberal environment. Lawyers of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) even discovered that cops are involved in extortion activities. Those jailed were reportedly, drug pushers who are being milked by the cops and being held under duress or under threat of filing charges against them.

The station commander denied keeping these suspects as "milking cows" but why keep these people separate from the prisoner population? What made them so special? PNP Chief General Bato dela Rosa should investigate this before this boils over.

While economically challenged drug dependents and suspects are sweating it out inside secret cells fit for animals, the police colonel caught in a drug session with a long-time drug pusher inside a shanty in Taguig is now working for his reinstatement as head of the PNP crime laboratory in Alabang.

Arrested PNP Superintendent Lito Cabamongan appeared before PNP Crime Lab chief Director Aurelio Trampe Jr asking for his job back. In an interview, Trampe made this statement:

“He’s requesting to go back sa Crime Lab. Sabi ko, ayusin muna ang kanyang criminal and administrative cases bago namin siya tulungan. Marami siyang anak na kailangan pa ng suporta at supported siya ng pamilya niya,” Trampe said.

What does this mean? When a cop is caught using shabu and even is being accused of selling them, he is free to get his job back? And his superior, Director Trampe, is willing to help him? I thought this administration is tough on drug offenders regardless of rank, race or affinity to the "Powers"?

Unlike those jailed in that secret cell in Tondo, Cabamongan was found positive of illegal drug use by the very same man, Trampe, who now is open to helping Cabamongan for as long as this cop "fixes" (ayusin) his criminal and administrative cases? Seriously sirs?

Even Trampe says the findings about Cabamongan shows that his underling suffers from psychosis or behavioural disorder due to drug use, which are grounds for termination, according to the PNP rule book. Hence, it would have been impossible if not improbable for Cabamongan to regain his past stature as an officer of the nation's police force.

I promised myself that I will refrain from commenting negatively on this war against drugs but these things are revolting to say the least. I am beginning to agree with what Amnesty International (AI) wrote about this drug war being waged against the poor right now by the Duterte administration:

"The Philippine government needs to urgently adopt a different approach to drugs and criminality, one which promotes, respects and fulfils the human rights of all concerned. Police and judicial authorities should ensure accountability for any unlawful killing by police officers or unknown armed persons, promptly, impartially and efficiently investigating allegations and prosecuting those involved. The impunity that currently reigns has facilitated killing on a massive scale, hitting the poorest and most marginalized segments of the population in particular."

Coup d'état against Duterte? Nah. I don't think so.

Presidential Communications secretary Martin Andanar should be very cautious and circumspect before he raises any issue at all. IN the first week of January, Andanar was quote as saying that there is a group now actively campaigning for the ouster of his principal, President Duterte. He points to a wealthy Filipinos-American businesswoman as behind this, and even tagged several members of the Vice president's staff as involved, although he was very careful not to directly involve the vice president Leni Robredo at all. Robredo has consistently denied being part of any plot, and even that US-based Filipina also belied it.

Obviously, Andanar's " scare tactics" will never work and it is too obvious. It came before the release of two surveys, the Pulse Asia and SWS, which points to a slight drop in trust and satisfaction ratings.  It was a highly deliberate tactic, which we, in the PR industry, knows as a mitigation tactic--ascribing blame over others. What Andanar wants us to believe is that the reason why people are slowly having fewer trust and lower satisfaction about this administration is that there is a deliberate attempt by anti-Duterte forces to influence public trust and satisfaction.

This is bullshit.

First off, the dip in Duterte's satisfaction and trust rating is, if you look at the presidential ratings from Aquino to Aquino, or an historical assessment, is highly regular. Ratings of presidents go South really after a year or two. In Duterte's case however, it came unexpectedly after six months, which is fast, if you ask me, considering that this administration has always said that Duterte is highly popular with the masses. A change in the perception from positive to negative is a cause of worry but this cannot be the handiwork of saboteurs. Ratings dip, and this is a given in any administration.

Second, I think that there is really no serious group out there sabotaging the President or making sure that he fumbles and fails in his mission. For one, the controversies that surrounded or hounded this president last year came from his very mouth. Doubts about his health came out when Duterte himself admitted he's sick and is using a powerful painkiller being used by cancer patients. Of course, people in the know would express their concerns realizing that stability rests on the health of the Chief Executive. We already have an experience with former president Marcos who lied constantly during his term and even denied that he was sick with lupus, and eventually, the issue broke out in humiliating fashion after his ouster from office. That explains that provision in the Constitution about the health of the President being revealed in public and there is simply nothing wrong with people expressing concerns about the President's health.

I think what concerns Malacanan right now are the following issues:

1. Malacanan is losing grip of Congress. Several sectors are questioning the leadership of both Houses and the possibility of a change looms.

2. Economic. The rate of foreign investments outflow is fast. If it stays that way and becomes a trend, there are serious repercussions to our economy.

3. Imposition of new taxes and that SSS pension fund issue are very serious. If the public are made aware of that SSS proposal to try and raise contributions from its members to fund that 1,000 pesos extra in pension, that would seriously turn into a very nasty public backlash.

4. That proposal of Diokno to impose taxes on diesel is a highly explosive economic issue which could turn seriously political the moment they implement it. Diokno's reasons are understandable; but for a public who has been brainwashed into thinking that the Philippines is on an economic roll, such a measure would turn fast into a political issue which could seriously undermine this administration.

5. There is now a growing public perception that this government is not vigilant in making sure that prices of goods stay within consumer expectations. Inflation is worsening.

Okey--what am I saying here? Government inaction and possibly, absence of strategic planning and thinking and the lackluster management and handling of the OP of certain things are contributing towards the fast deterioration of things in our country. As what Senator Trillanes said, one does not need to destabilize this administration because it is destabilizing itself, and that is true. Duterte may fall by his own sword if he does not seriously address the root cause of these things which is simply his aversion to address serious issues of governance and his overzealousness in the fight against drugs which has affected other more substantive aspects of governance.

His administration needs him to provide direction and it is becoming obvious that he is not stepping up to the plate. The fact is--Duterte's path or direction rans contrary to what most of his Cabinet members think and this is seriously destabilizing him. Honestly, I don't expect Duterte to change because I think, serving as mayor for 22 years already, our president is seriously tired. He's old, and he's accustomed to a governance style that could only be described as "remote control". Yes, you can do that to a small city but to a country of 101 million souls? Duterte is expected to protect people's interests against the interests of carpet-baggers and influence peddlers and bureaucrat capitalists who now surround him. Yes, these are allies, but these people are concerned only of their own personal and fiduciary interests, neither the country's nor the people's. The minute Duterte becomes weak and weaker still, expect these people to abandon him.

Andanar should not point to other people--he should tell the truth as part of his public mandate. Andanar should realize that his boss is not Duterte but the people. He is the Secretary of a Department which is created by the Constitution. He should not start a fire which could backfire eventually.

The lesson here is simple---do not think that people nowadays are fools or stupid idiots. People are highly informed. Raising the red flag at this early stage is detrimental to the administration, not at all helping the efforts at stabilizing or lowering the level of anxiety over the administration.

Look---after Andanar's supposed revelation (which I believe is self-serving; of course, Andanar's stock as a reliable or trustworthy member of Duterte's cabinet is assured after him giving the President a "heads up". Rumors of his eventual ouster or replacement would definitely be just that, rumors. Andanar is very influential being the husband of the daughter of an Aguilar, who happens to be the relative of Senator Cynthia Aguilar-Villar, a strong electoral contributor and political ally of the President), investors, I was informed, immediately took a position of "wait and see." With Andanar's propensity to shoot his mouth off, there will surely be a time when he becomes that kid who cried wolf. That is not good.

Ramos accuses the Duterte administration of going backward

Former president Fidel Valdez Ramos has been extremely vocal and critical of his "protege" Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Ramos described the Marcos burial as a "step backwards" for the Duterte administration. It seems that the issue is still a very emotional issue for Filipinos, especially Ramos who was one of those who stood against the dictatorship and re-drew history. He specifically called for a presscon just to express his disgusts against the decision to allow the burial to push thru.

Ramos was so emotional, he even called for the prosecution of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) who reportedly "connived" with the Marcos family on implementing this travesty. For Ramos, they committed a grievous crime which dishonored the military's reputation as an institution.

Many people admired Ramos for standing up for what is Right. And that comes from an eighty two year old guy. What about those younger officers who went with Ramos and also sacrificed their futures to condemn what was wrong then?

I am talking about a Honasan who accompanied his former boss, Enrile, and declared the dictatorship an enemy? It seems that these two already forgot themselves and they themselves erased their legacies for the Filipino people.

How about the likes of Abe Purungganan, and those young military officers who threw caution out of the window and sacrificed their futures just to express their opposition to the evils of those times? Did they also forgot what they already did and like others, threw their legacies out of the window and for what?

Thirty years and many have forgotten why God put them in the Philippines in 1986 in that place at that time.

Thirty years and because the system remained a disappointment, these men and women who stood against the Strong Man and brought him down, are the very same ones who now sing Hossannas before the cadaver of the one who literally brought the entire system near the pits of depression.

At least two generations of Filipinos suffered not just in economic terms but also in sociological terms and we forgot ourselves momentarily during those times. And now we have regained ourselves and are now once more, proud of our being Filipinos, we are now being forced to accept a governance proposition that goes against every single Filipino values and democratic traditions.

Why are we allowing this to happen to us? We are on a roll and now, we are slowly slipping back to the very situation which caused us to tank 30 years ago, as a nation? Are we a nation who loves to see ourselves always behind and always being mocked at?

Duterte may be impeached if he enters into joint oil exploration deal with China

Any joint exploration talks between us and any country should be within the confines of the 1987 Constitution. Joint ventures, based on our laws, are allowed except if these are about the exploration of our mineral resources. The use and abuse of our natural resources lie solely on us. We cannot allow foreign entities to join us in benefitting from these God-given resources.

Yes, in Section 2 of of Article XII of the 1987 Constitution, joint ventures are allowed with the exception of those ventures involving our archiepelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zones. This is explicitly prohibited.

Section 2. All lands of the public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of potential energy, fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources are owned by the State. With the exception of agricultural lands, all other natural resources shall not be alienated. The exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State. The State may directly undertake such activities, or it may enter into co-production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens, or corporations or associations at least sixty per centum of whose capital is owned by such citizens. Such agreements may be for a period not exceeding twenty-five years, renewable for not more than twenty-five years, and under such terms and conditions as may be provided by law. In cases of water rights for irrigation, water supply fisheries, or industrial uses other than the development of water power, beneficial use may be the measure and limit of the grant. 

The State shall protect the nation's marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens. 

The Congress may, by law, allow small-scale utilization of natural resources by Filipino citizens, as well as cooperative fish farming, with priority to subsistence fishermen and fish- workers in rivers, lakes, bays, and lagoons. 

The President may enter into agreements with foreign-owned corporations involving either technical or financial assistance for large-scale exploration, development, and utilization of minerals, petroleum, and other mineral oils according to the general terms and conditions provided by law, based on real contributions to the economic growth and general welfare of the country. In such agreements, the State shall promote the development and use of local scientific and technical resources. 

The President shall notify the Congress of every contract entered into in accordance with this provision, within thirty days from its execution.

Dax Lucas wrote today a news item about plans by the Duterte administration to seek joint ventures with the Chinese government on oil or minerals exploration in  "undisputed areas" which, officials of Duterte's government says, " those near the Philippines, possibly Recto bank."

Let me caution the President on this---even if these waters are "those near us", for as long as these waters belong to our "archiepelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zones, the Constitution reserves its use and enjoyment "exclusively to Filipino citizens." The provision is explicit. It does not contemplate joint ventures, or foreign-backed exploration.

If this President enters into a deal with the Chinese government for a state-to-state exploration activity, this is illegal and unconstitutional and may be used to impeach this President. Should Mr. Duterte insists on this, he will be placing this entire country into such a mess, like a Civil war.

We, the Filipino People, have fought for our rights unto these waters for so long, longer than any other in Southeast Asia. Just following the ruling of the International tribunal, this is simply not a dispute or an issue, because these waters lie solely on the exclusive economic zone enjoyed by our Country based on international law.

We, the Filipino People, are a peace-loving people. We don't want war, as war is never a part of our national policy.

The issue of sovereignty is most important to all of us. It is our right to live. It is a right enjoyed by every democratic people everywhere.

Duterte says we are not mendicants. Duterte says we are to pursue an independent foreign policy. Then, why do we go to China now to explore something which is patently illegal and unconstitutional. Why are we doing this to ourselves?

The entire international community has already recognized our rights over these waters. It is not right or even constitutional that we even contemplate on giving the Chinese every single chance of exploring "even uncontested waters" because such areas belong to us, exclusively, for the use of our people, not the Chinese. Our Constitution is very much clear on that. We need to respect our Constitution. Otherwise, why respect government?

If our President would not respect or honor this Constitution, then, why do we need to respect the very office he holds? For the Office of the President was created by this Constitution.

My good friend and kuya, now Lawyer, Alex Lacson once asked me to read Henry David Thoreau. And I did.

Thoreau wrote Civil Disobedience, which the American did write, I think in 1848 after leaving Walden Pond. The essay was about imperialism and anti-slavery. America was entering the stage of imperialism, at a time when the united states was waging war against Mexico in the American-Mexico war.

He says that governments are sometimes agents of injustice, and by conscience, peoples are not necessarily obligated to follow governments that promote injustices. Thoreau then wrote this memorable quote:

"I heartily accept the motto,—“That government is best which governs least;” and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which I also believe,—“That government is best which governs not at all;” and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient."

Duterte administration on the right track

The incoming administration's ten point economic agenda seems very promising. First off, it is doable. Second, it specifically addresses major stumbling blocks in the country's progress and thirdly, the agenda seemed necessary for the Philippines to immediately leap-frog itself to industrialization. Let's discuss one-by-one:

1. The adoption of comprehensive tax reform. This is necessary because income and corporate taxes here are higher than other Asian countries. Lowering income tax to 10-12% would spur further economic growth because it would enable all Filipinos to enjoy the value of their salaries. This will definitely lead to a faster growth of SMEs in this country, as people would now have a higher spending capability than before. 
2. The adoption of a national ID system. Government spends so much in ID's that one singular ID should be adopted. This, however, necessitates the creation of a unified IT network. Prior to the creation of an ID system, there should already be an established National IT network and integration should have been in place already. 
3. Further ease in doing business. This point is dependent on the connectivity issues as discussed in 2. In the interim, what agencies can do to further ease the process is eliminate clogs in the system especially the number of signatories and of course, the frequency of human intervention. 
4. The improvement of telecommunications and internet services. Open the industry to foreign players so that the entire government is not beholden to just two (2) telecom giants or what others call a duopoly. 
5. The delivery of support services to farmers such as financing, technology and logistics. This is entirely necessary since the infrastructure is already established. What government needs is to prioritize funding for this. 
6. The implementation of responsible mining, with local value-added such as processing, while limiting raw ore exports. I don't know how this administration define "responsible mining" but what the admin probably meant is beneficial mining, meaning, more revenues should be enjoyed by the LGU's instead of just the mining firms benefitting from the mining activities. Government should re-establish our former industries such as Copper, Nickel, Steel industries.
7. The development of regional industries while equipping the local workforce with necessary skills. There must be a comprehensive development road map, identifying major industries per region and minimising competition between and among regions. For example, in regions where they are always subject to natural disasters like typhoons, and the soil in these areas are not suited for agriculture, be transformed as mining areas. 
8. The improvement of transport networks across the country to foster connectivity. There is already a plan for this. This however, does not need emergency powers to be effected. It just needs a responsible manager to coordinate everything in a smoother, faster pace.
9. A review of the conditional cash transfer program, as it promotes dependency on the government. I think in this aspect they are mistaken. GOvernment needs to continue this for the next two years because the poor here in the Philippines is poorer than what other Asian countries classify them to. 
10. The speedy implementation of public-private partnership and infrastructure projects as well as respecting the sanctity of contracts. Question---what if a particular project is superfluous and does not fit in the overall scheme of things--will this be continued because this administration vows to respect the sanctity of contracts? I think this is inserted by business groups formerly allied with the previous administrations. 

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