Drug Free

An article by a very good friend of mine, Mr. Gabi Keith

“It takes a village to raise (educate) a child,” is popularized by former American First Lady, Secretary of State, and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, that also happens to be an African proverb if I’m not mistaken. Let me add by saying that it takes the cooperation of a village or the whole community for the ongoing “war” against illegal drugs waged by the Duterte government in our beautiful archipelago of delicious coconuts, smiling carabaos, blushing strawberries, and aromatic durians to succeed.

Although this near-sighted Ibaloy writer supports the fight against illegal drugs, I strongly believe that human rights must always be respected and the legal dictum that “one is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law” must be observed in the process. The Philippines is still a democratic and predominantly Christian nation, after all.

Anyway, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan is encouraging local residents to help make Baguio “drug-free” by the end of the year by cooperating with the city’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. He has also directed the Baguio’s Finest to work double time in addressing the city’s drug problem that is the cause of so much criminality. For that matter, all sectors should work double time in helping each other excising or removing this cancer of society.

Since every reasonable person wishes to live, work, and raise a family in a safe and peaceful environment, it then behooves us to answer the mayor’s appeal to cooperate in eradicating the drug menace. Otherwise, if we can’t or won’t be part of the solution in making our community drug-free, then let us be kind enough not to be part of the problem.