We were aghast upon hearing about the vicious, cold-blooded, and merciless killing of two girls (one is pregnant) in barangay Solangon in the town of San Juan in Siquijor.
What made the slaughter more brutally-sensational is the fact that it was committed at the height of the national government’s war against illegal drugs.
When news got around, everyone was appalled, everyone had an opinion, and of course, everyone want justice for the two girls who were so clueless of their imminent inhumane deaths.
As news got to Education Secretary Leonor Briones, herself a Negrense, she immediately issued a statement censuring the huge attention that Filipinos give to the ‘human rights’ of drug users, drug pushers, and drug financiers, instead of standing on the side of the victims.
In her April 6 statement, she said, “…not much focus was given to the victims and their families whose lives were destroyed as a result of the careless, mindless, and selfish choices of these addicts.…We call on communities, universities, church institutions, societies, and all organizations involved in the anti-illegal drugs campaign to join hands for the sake of all innocent victims. Heinous and horrific crimes such as this do not have a place in a country that seeks to protect and promote the welfare of its people, much more preserve the lives of the innocent.”
Yes, it’s unfortunate that some people seem to pity the perpetrators of crimes more than we sympathize with the victims and their families.
According to the Dangerous Drugs Board’s latest survey, there are 1.8 million drug users in the country, or 1.8 percent of the total population of 100.98 million.
Similarly, data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency states that 11,132 or 26 percent out of 42,036 barangays in the country are drug-affected/”infected” as of December 2015.
After that horrendous incident in Siquijor, I could not help but ask — don’t our sports organizations adopt ‘anti-doping’ programs or adhere to the world’s Anti-Doping Code enforced in February 2007?
We all know that the personalities involved in the bloodbath went to Siquijor Island to participate in and witness an international longboard competition.
So how did the alleged killer, who was allegedly under the influence of marijuana and LSD, able to get into the competition? And how come he still had in his possession an unspecified quantity of shabu? Don’t sports officials check on the participants by administering drug tests on each one? Just to ensure that no one is using ‘performance-enhancing’ drugs?
With the onslaught of the illegal drugs trade, there has to be more stringent policies that must be implemented by the PDEA, the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Sports Commission, especially when large sporting events are held.
Everyone must be tested for drug-use — from athletes up to sports officials.
And all those proven positive of drug use should not be permitted to join. And during sports events, police authorities must be extra vigilant and extra prepared for illegal drugs-related incidents.
The senseless, mindless killing of Nikki Piñero and Loreen Ramirez did not just demonstrate what illegal drugs can do to people.
It also revealed the inadequacy of our peace and order authorities, and likewise, exposed how little we really have done in our fight against drug abuse.
The incident was another wake-up call for everyone to join hands with government in its battle towards the eradication of illegal drugs in our midst.
_______________________________
Author’s email: wea_129@yahoo.com
