PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago: “I’ve been receiving reports from politicians themselves, those who are not into drugs… I’ve been telling [President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] a long time ago that there’s ‘narcopolitics’ all over the country. With the 2010 elections nearing, she’s worried that drug money might come into play. It’s so big that if you know, you will not work anymore. Officials from “all levels” covered up their tracks by running legitimate businesses and letting other people do the dirty work.”
Major Ferdinand Marcelino, head of the PDEA’s special enforcement service: “Some used to be just protectors, but recently we found out they are already [financiers].”
There is nothing I’d want more than to fully embrace the claims of PDEA boss Dionisio Santiago given the tight grip drug trafficking appears to have on Philippine society.
Even admired Marine Ferdinand Marcelino sounds like he worships the ground his boss walk on.
But this claim about ‘narco-politics’ possibly influencing even the 2010 elections leaves me wondering what agenda Santiago is really pursuing.
He refuses to name names and has not presented a whit of evidence, demanding that we only take his word as gospel truth, with President Arroyo as his confidante!
In effect Mr. Santiago is saying he has a dossier on politicians on the national stage, implying that these unnamed ‘narco-politicians better not cross him or Pres. Arroyo herself.
Anyone remember how in the U.S., FBI boss Herbert Hoover was widely reported to have harassed politicians about dossiers the FBI had against them?
This narco-politics spin, unsubstantiated as it is, fits well into a scenario where even genuine, non-criminal dissent may be stifled.
The onus is for Santiago to put his money where his psy-war-prone mouth is and present to Filipinos real hard evidence about national level narco-politicians.
Throw your suspects in jail, Mr. Santiago, and spare us your histrionics and psy-war tactics!
Could it be that this one-time Marcos-era Metrocom officer may actually be engaged in a politically motivated black propaganda push where the ultimate beneficiary is the anti-drug trafficking Czarina and not Philippine society?
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Great post Ding. Made my blood boil listening to the hearing today. Did you hear Marcelino talking about election cheating in Sulu?? That was dynamte. Narcopolitics is also a label that could stick to Gloria like dung on a fly’s filthy legs.
but even if one presumed the ruling coalition is riddled with drug traffickers, what could anyone do about it without risking a general implosion? ther’es the conundrum.
good post. Santiago should put up or shut up. He’s got idealists eating out of his hands. And you know fascists love nothing better than a moral crusade where due process and the rule of law are sacrificed on the altar of righteousness.
Gents, given what I feel is the re-emergence of police state organs the new report of ex ISAfP boss Celso Danga to the National Printing office is fraught with dangerous implications. Will do a fuller post.