MERCHANTS OF MISERY
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
I have always been preparing to write articles with relevance to the present issues of concern that happen in our society. Certain concrete, reliable and important data should be gathered so that the presentation will merit a favorable response. In sudden deliberation of my conscience, I believe that I should not write just to write something. From now on, I will refrain myself from doing this. I will use my pen, not for personal glory, but for social justice.
Most people who commit crimes in our country were under the influence of drugs. Drug-related case are very rampant, considering that there were many news reports telling us that most of the suspects in murder and rape cases were drug users. Most of us already knew the relative effects of drugs, not only in our body and mind, but also in our society. So I will not discuss it here in detail. My concern most is the organized crimes that also destroy every inch of peace in all corners of the community we live in.
Our country has become one of the major transshipment points for international drug syndicates, such as Bamboo Gang and the 14K Group. In the Us and other parts of the world, the most popular were the Italian Mafia, Chinese Triad and the Japanese Yakuza. They are not small-time criminals but an organized one.
It's very hard to fight organized groups like these because of their system of internal security and the development of trustworthy contacts in the government and the military bureaucracy, particularly those personnel concerned with law enforcement. When such criminal organizations flourish, we can expect corruption among government officials to protect their personal interest. Organized crimes were not just mere gangsters who only use violence. They were now in a full-scale business with nationwide and international network.
What these organized crimes want is power and money. What differs them from some law-abiding organizations with the same objective is that the laws and regulations they obey, the ethical and moral standard they use and the procedures they employ are private and secret enough that they devise them, change them according to situations, and were summarily and invisibly administered. Organized crime, like capitalism, is a business. Its goal is profit, and its means to that end is to establish monopoly to destroy the competition. Both legitimate business and organized crime seek freedom from government meddling by giving sums of money to persons in key positions. Some of these key figures in the government and in the military hierarchy were in the payroll of these organized crimes. Crime lords are not just gangsters. Most of them are legitimate businessmen and key political figures. So, how can we destroy these crime syndicates if those who ought to protect the citizens were the ones who destroy the future of these people?
The drug problem that confronts our country has grown to such a proportion that requires careful study involving all sectors of our society. It is no longer sufficient that we leave these problems to the law enforcement alone. What we need is holistic approach that involves not only the police or the government, but also the citizens as well.
Every citizen of the community must play a vigilant role. All cities, municipalities and barangays should be truly harnessed in this campaign. Every family, most especially the parents, should show love and concern for each one.
I know many of us wants to help eradicate this social problem. In my part, as a journalist, one of my passions is to investigate and jeopardize the operations of these vermins of society. if you know something about drug pushers and drug users but felt helpless and cannot do something to expose them, you may send letter to me about what you know. These letters may be anonymous, but please, state clearly all the necessary facts that we need, such as the name of the persons involved, the methods and place of their operation, the key persons behind them and how much money involved. Given an opportunity to be an investigative journalist, I know you can help us in obtaining reliable informations. I promise to act on these matters. And I hope that you will totally support us in our quest for justice. This is our battle cry, "Justice before profit!"
- The Featinean folio, Summer 1997, pages 58-59
ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.
I have always been preparing to write articles with relevance to the present issues of concern that happen in our society. Certain concrete, reliable and important data should be gathered so that the presentation will merit a favorable response. In sudden deliberation of my conscience, I believe that I should not write just to write something. From now on, I will refrain myself from doing this. I will use my pen, not for personal glory, but for social justice.
Most people who commit crimes in our country were under the influence of drugs. Drug-related case are very rampant, considering that there were many news reports telling us that most of the suspects in murder and rape cases were drug users. Most of us already knew the relative effects of drugs, not only in our body and mind, but also in our society. So I will not discuss it here in detail. My concern most is the organized crimes that also destroy every inch of peace in all corners of the community we live in.
Our country has become one of the major transshipment points for international drug syndicates, such as Bamboo Gang and the 14K Group. In the Us and other parts of the world, the most popular were the Italian Mafia, Chinese Triad and the Japanese Yakuza. They are not small-time criminals but an organized one.
It's very hard to fight organized groups like these because of their system of internal security and the development of trustworthy contacts in the government and the military bureaucracy, particularly those personnel concerned with law enforcement. When such criminal organizations flourish, we can expect corruption among government officials to protect their personal interest. Organized crimes were not just mere gangsters who only use violence. They were now in a full-scale business with nationwide and international network.
What these organized crimes want is power and money. What differs them from some law-abiding organizations with the same objective is that the laws and regulations they obey, the ethical and moral standard they use and the procedures they employ are private and secret enough that they devise them, change them according to situations, and were summarily and invisibly administered. Organized crime, like capitalism, is a business. Its goal is profit, and its means to that end is to establish monopoly to destroy the competition. Both legitimate business and organized crime seek freedom from government meddling by giving sums of money to persons in key positions. Some of these key figures in the government and in the military hierarchy were in the payroll of these organized crimes. Crime lords are not just gangsters. Most of them are legitimate businessmen and key political figures. So, how can we destroy these crime syndicates if those who ought to protect the citizens were the ones who destroy the future of these people?
The drug problem that confronts our country has grown to such a proportion that requires careful study involving all sectors of our society. It is no longer sufficient that we leave these problems to the law enforcement alone. What we need is holistic approach that involves not only the police or the government, but also the citizens as well.
Every citizen of the community must play a vigilant role. All cities, municipalities and barangays should be truly harnessed in this campaign. Every family, most especially the parents, should show love and concern for each one.
I know many of us wants to help eradicate this social problem. In my part, as a journalist, one of my passions is to investigate and jeopardize the operations of these vermins of society. if you know something about drug pushers and drug users but felt helpless and cannot do something to expose them, you may send letter to me about what you know. These letters may be anonymous, but please, state clearly all the necessary facts that we need, such as the name of the persons involved, the methods and place of their operation, the key persons behind them and how much money involved. Given an opportunity to be an investigative journalist, I know you can help us in obtaining reliable informations. I promise to act on these matters. And I hope that you will totally support us in our quest for justice. This is our battle cry, "Justice before profit!"
- The Featinean folio, Summer 1997, pages 58-59
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