At the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte named five police generals as protectors of the illegal drug trade. Three of the five are in active service; two have retired.
The following morning, Generals Joel Pagdilao, Bernardo Diaz and Edgardo Tinio met with Philippine National Police Chief Ronaldo dela Rosa who in turn advised them to “face the music.” The National Police Commission will investigate the cases of the three active police officials, who were just relieved of their posts this week.
A regular court will try the case of retired General Marcelo Garbo while the Department of the Interior and Local Government will handle the case of retired General Vicente Loon, who is now mayor of Daanbantayan town in Cebu.
Dela Rosa refused to disclose what transpired during the meeting with Pagdilao, Diaz and Tinio, saying it was “purely intimate and personal.” The generals had earlier protested their inclusion in the list and denied involvement in the drug trade.
It would be tragic if there were a mistake of some sort in identifying the police officials supposedly protecting drug lords. Imagine the effects of the President’s announcement on the generals’ families and on the officials themselves, assuming they lived out the past few decades in honest and painstaking service to the country. Imagine the tragedy, were the long years of service to end in a downfall precipitated by charges that are not even true. Finally, imagine the effect of the accusations on the morale of the younger police officials who had looked up to these men as their leaders, mentors, even their friends. We hope the generals get to clear their name—if in fact they are innocent.
Palace officials, however, have said there has been no wrong information fed to the President. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the Palace had sufficient documentary and testimonial evidence to support the administrative and criminal cases against the cops.
“He won’t say anything like that if there is no strong evidence to link them [to it],” said Interior Secretary Mike Sueno.
That the generals were named just a few days after the start of the new administration and during a public address at the anniversary of the Philippine Air Force bolsters Duterte’s promise that the fight against illegal drugs will be resolute.
Most importantly, it sends a message loud and clear to other politicians and law enforcers who vow to protect public interest and yet protect the drug trade, as well. The bold announcement will not likely be the last, and they better be afraid.
The drug problem has not been cited as the most urgent concern—at least not along the ranks of poverty, inequality and corruption—until now. Then again, it is linked to all the other ills: it wastes individual and family resources, corrupts public servants, undermines institutions and disrupts what could otherwise be a productive life for the user.
Let the charges be pressed if there is sufficient basis for them. Let the investigations begin and let justice be swift. Acquit the innocent but punish the guilty, however high up in the organization they may be. Let this cycle continue until we hear the next batch of names, and the other batches after that.
