Of Cash and Drugs
THE MEDIA CIRCUS OVER ALABANG BOYS
Desiree B. Villanueva
February|2009
The Philippines ranks first on the list of countries whose population (aged 15-64) uses methamphetamine. A 2004 Dangerous Drugs Board survey found 6.7 million users of illegal drugs in the country. In its efforts to curb the rising toll of criminality, the government stepped up the campaign against illegal drugs.
The Cast
They are the Alabang boys; rich, powerful, influential, and alleged big-time drug syndicate caught by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during an entrapment operation on September 20, 2008. Richard Santos Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph, and Joseph Ramirez Tecson were among those that have been arrested by PDEA after a season in which a number of drug lords got away scot-free. The Alabang boys are now subjects of a tug-of-war between the PDEA and prosecutors, and the Department of Justice under Sec. Raul Gonzales. A parent of one of the Alabang boys is said to be behind a lucrative government contract having to do with (drug) running.
Now showing
With the resurgence of the issue of narcopolitics, bribery, and money laundering, DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzales has made a major comeback on primetime television. The secretary has committed himself to go hands-on over the issue once and for all. When reports about a P50 million bribe offer to prosecutors and the DOJ came out, Sec. Gonzales sneered at it and retorted that if it were true “that means they are richer than Meralco.” On the other hand, PDEA boss retired Gen. Dionisio Santiago commented that “P50 million is a small amount than having to spend a lifetime in jail.” Santiago also hinted of a possible links of the boys to international drug syndicates.
The face-off between the two competent men, Sec. Gonzales and Gen. Santiago, is the amusing part. Gonzales, a topnotch lawyer and famous prosecutor of the Aquino-Galman double murder case, has maintained his position when all other cabinet members have been shuffled and reshuffled many times. Santiago has a 37- year military career and is the former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Both men can be very stubborn which is often how they get their jobs done.
Next Picture
At the height of this issue, DepEd has proposed that a random drug test on students be conducted. They are more than willing to spend their already meager budget for a high-cost, ineffective, and discriminatory measure instead of acquiring books and classrooms or the inclusion of drug-awareness in the curricula. But what can an ordinary student do?
The fight against illegal drugs is an old music we’ve all heard of over and over again. It has yet again suddenly become a media attraction. Gone were the fertilizer scams, the ZTE broadband deal, the plot to impeach SC Chief Justice Puno, et cetera. We people easily forget.
If the Alabang boys were not the main dish, will the campaign against illegal drugs remain an appetizer? What else is on the menu? It stirs up one’s mind though whether the government is serious about this campaign or is it just a convenient stage play to divert the public’s attention over the scams that involve the President. What I see is that this case will be forgotten by the forgetful public soon enough. What’s next? Charter Change?
THE MEDIA CIRCUS OVER ALABANG BOYS
Desiree B. Villanueva
February|2009
The Philippines ranks first on the list of countries whose population (aged 15-64) uses methamphetamine. A 2004 Dangerous Drugs Board survey found 6.7 million users of illegal drugs in the country. In its efforts to curb the rising toll of criminality, the government stepped up the campaign against illegal drugs.
The Cast
They are the Alabang boys; rich, powerful, influential, and alleged big-time drug syndicate caught by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency during an entrapment operation on September 20, 2008. Richard Santos Brodett, Jorge Jordana Joseph, and Joseph Ramirez Tecson were among those that have been arrested by PDEA after a season in which a number of drug lords got away scot-free. The Alabang boys are now subjects of a tug-of-war between the PDEA and prosecutors, and the Department of Justice under Sec. Raul Gonzales. A parent of one of the Alabang boys is said to be behind a lucrative government contract having to do with (drug) running.
Now showing
With the resurgence of the issue of narcopolitics, bribery, and money laundering, DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzales has made a major comeback on primetime television. The secretary has committed himself to go hands-on over the issue once and for all. When reports about a P50 million bribe offer to prosecutors and the DOJ came out, Sec. Gonzales sneered at it and retorted that if it were true “that means they are richer than Meralco.” On the other hand, PDEA boss retired Gen. Dionisio Santiago commented that “P50 million is a small amount than having to spend a lifetime in jail.” Santiago also hinted of a possible links of the boys to international drug syndicates.
The face-off between the two competent men, Sec. Gonzales and Gen. Santiago, is the amusing part. Gonzales, a topnotch lawyer and famous prosecutor of the Aquino-Galman double murder case, has maintained his position when all other cabinet members have been shuffled and reshuffled many times. Santiago has a 37- year military career and is the former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Both men can be very stubborn which is often how they get their jobs done.
Next Picture
At the height of this issue, DepEd has proposed that a random drug test on students be conducted. They are more than willing to spend their already meager budget for a high-cost, ineffective, and discriminatory measure instead of acquiring books and classrooms or the inclusion of drug-awareness in the curricula. But what can an ordinary student do?
The fight against illegal drugs is an old music we’ve all heard of over and over again. It has yet again suddenly become a media attraction. Gone were the fertilizer scams, the ZTE broadband deal, the plot to impeach SC Chief Justice Puno, et cetera. We people easily forget.
If the Alabang boys were not the main dish, will the campaign against illegal drugs remain an appetizer? What else is on the menu? It stirs up one’s mind though whether the government is serious about this campaign or is it just a convenient stage play to divert the public’s attention over the scams that involve the President. What I see is that this case will be forgotten by the forgetful public soon enough. What’s next? Charter Change?
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