One word is all it takes
It seems the issue of the magnetic lifters found in Cavite that were suspected to have contained illegal drugs continues at the Senate. The PDEA believes the lifters were emptied of drugs before they were discovered. At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the issue, it was revealed by a warehouse personnel that seven Chinese nationals arrived at the warehouse sometime in July. They were expected to arrive last May, but only showed up in July. One of them even used a grinder, supposedly to cut open the lifters.
Based on all these statements, as well as the positive reaction from trained drug-sniffing dogs and the previous discovery of shabu inside similar magnetic lifters found at the Manila International Container Port, it would be easy to surmise that drugs were indeed in the magnetic lifters in Cavite, and are now in the streets. This is the position of the PDEA and Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee Senator Gordon. But the Bureau of Customs still believes there was no drugs inside the Cavite lifters due to the negative swab test they conducted. This is also the position of President Duterte, who even berated PDEA and told them not to speculate. Of course, the current stand is there are no drugs.
This is why the problem of illegal drugs cannot seem to end. Large amounts continue to enter the country in spite of the government’s bloody campaign against it. According to a BOC official, if only the personnel manning the X-ray machines were better trained, the drugs could have been discovered. They should not rely on the X-ray images alone because drugs can be undetected if wrapped in lead, foil, or plastic. An actual physical, visual examination of large items, especially those with large cavities should be done.
If that’s the case, why aren’t the imaging personnel trained to do so? Why is this being brought up now, when a large amount of drugs may have already slipped past customs personnel? Or are poorly trained personnel assigned to the imaging unit, on purpose? Why is PDEA discovering these, when they pass through customs in the first place? And if they contest the reaction of drug-sniffing dogs, what’s the use?
The Blue Ribbon Committee should submit a report or recommendation with regards to these hearings. With the chairman voicing his belief that there was indeed drugs inside the magnetic lifters, will the Senate report be set aside because the president does not believe drugs were present? Because it seems that one word from the president is all it takes to cancel anything nowadays. Closed cases are reopened, amnesties are selectively revoked, cases decided can no longer be appealed, and so on. Are the three branches of government still separate and independent?
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