Where is the outrage?

The silence is deafening. This seems to be what two senators are saying, on the apparent silence of President Rodrigo Duterte on the one of the biggest shipments of shabu into the country. A total of 604 kilograms of allegedly high-grade meth, with an estimated value of six and a half billion pesos, was discovered not on the Bureau of Customs grounds, but in a warehouse in Valenzuela, meaning to say the shipment has “passed” all the necessary procedures for it to be brought out of the BOC and into the warehouse. But then a tip from China informed the BOC of the hidden contraband, but at the same time requesting that the owner of the warehouse be given protection. A picture of the warehouse owner with Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon surfaces. Both the Senate and Congress have started inquiries on the said shipment, and how such a huge amount of illegal drugs could slip past Customs, as if it is such a mystery.

There was noise from Faeldon, who claims they followed procedure, there was noise from Sen. Gordon of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, who was incensed at the supposed following of procedure, there were noises from Congress about the whole procedure. But there was no noise from the Palace. The only times President Duterte had something to say on the matter was when he professed his continued trust for Faeldon, who is now in a hospital, and defended his son from allegations of being involved in the incident. The president’s son has been alluded to by a broker who is now spilling the beans in Congress.

We all know Duterte’s hatred for drugs. Just the mere mention of it prompts threats of action. Even the smallest criticism of his current war on drugs sends him into an invective-laden rant, sometimes even going ballistic on persons and groups such the Commission on Human Rights, even the former president. Three mayors on his narco-list have died. Thousands have died on the streets after apparent shootouts with police, with only small packets of shabu discovered on their persons. But this is 604 kilograms of shabu. Where is the outrage?

According to the Palace spokesperson, the president would rather let the whole shabu issue run its proper course, and not interfere. But what about his constant statements about pardoning the group of Superintendent Marcos and his group for the killing of Mayor Espinosa Sr.? The case is already in court. Shouldn’t he just “let it run its course”?

Several officials of the BOC have tendered their resignations in light of the Senate hearings calling them out for their incompetence. There seems to be a feud between the BOC and PDEA, in which the latter claims that they have problems with the BOC whenever illegal drugs are concerned, prompting the DOJ to issue a statement to clear the matter of jurisdiction. Faeldon is still in the hospital, enjoying the president’s trust. The owner of the warehouse and a broker have been detained in the Senate for contempt. Both are Chinese. The shipment of shabu came from China. Just saying.