Res Gestae
Not a statement of fact, but a statement of possibility
Last week this column tackled the report of the US State Department labeling the Philippines as haven for drug smugglers. Such report indubitably gives this country a negative publicity. Worse that may happen is for that report to scare well-meaning investors to do business here. Truly, it is so untimely because we are still wallowing on the tantrums of EDSA 20th anniversary and GMA's Proclamation 1017. We deserve a break! We need a space to breathe!
In reaction to the said report tagging the Philippines as "drug trafficker's paradise", the chief of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said the statement is not a statement of fact, but a mere statement of possibility.
The report is NOT a statement of fact because, as PDEA Director Anselmo Avenido said, the government has been winning the war on illegal drugs. Considering this country as haven for drug smugglers is mere possibility deduced from the surrounding circumstances. We have more than 7,000 islands and 32,000-kilometer coastline. Smugglers can always take advantage of this geographical description.
It is NOT a statement of fact because at the moment the price of shabu has gone up to P5,000 or more per gram from P2,000. The authorities have exerted efforts to cut the supply by dismantling shabu laboratories and drug markets. "Shabu is now very scarce," Avenido claimed.
But, should the US report contain only a statement of possibility, its claim that "illegal drug trade in the Philippines has evolved into a billion-dollar industry" is, therefore, baseless and malicious. Shall we allow anybody to subject our country into negative speculation with unfounded reports?
The said report could be the basis of the US decision makers in allocating funds for the anti-drug campaign for other countries. With that report tagging the Philippines as "drug trafficker's paradise," we could be assured of the support from the US.
So here's the real score! The fund prevails than the fact! Never mind how negative the label is, what is most important is the financial aid that US will be allocating for our anti-drug campaign. After all, the label is only a statement of possibility.
I am with the opinion that the Philippines cannot stand alone in its war against illegal drugs. We have a national anti-drug strategy as well as a national anti-drug program of action. What we need is the sufficient funding to effectively and efficiently implement those strategies and programs. For this, we need the US? Maybe yes! But, if gaining the support of the US would mean this country losing its other foreign investors with those "statements of possibilities," I would suggest that government must take a second look on the issue.
The US State report itself said that despite limited resources, our law enforcement efforts are considered effective. Ergo, we can ultimately win our battle against illegal drugs with our limited resources and even without the support of the US. The problem is when said part of the report is also NOT a statement of fact, but only a statement of possibility.
(To my long lost friends, THANNY of Butuan and YOYOY of Cebu who are here for a vacation, WELCOME and ENJOY the City of Smile.)