2026: The year of living dangerously?

“Be careful what you wish for.”

Almost all of us have been given that reminder as we aspired for something – a relationship, a job, fame and fortune, etc. The warning specially applies to people who are so determined in achieving certain outcomes but never fully studying consequences and collateral damage.

Consider, for instance, the news or announcements that Sen. Bong Go, along with several retired high ranking police officers. have been identified, named or submitted to be respondents to the ICC investigation of the Duterte drug war.

While others might have treated the front page story as just another story, I was honestly worried about the possible blowback or collateral damage the situation may cause such as unrest, insecurity or even destabilization among uniformed personnel.

As we celebrate yet another anniversary of the EDSA People Power, I am reminded of the many destabilization attempts, the series of coups d’état during the Cory administration, which was mainly a matter of “whose side are you on?” or certain blocks sending Cory Aquino a “message.”

The media have been reporting about how the government will be sending out a substantial number of police personnel to secure public safety during the EDSA People Power anniversary.

But after reading that several generals and colonels are going to be “invited’ if not arrested to face the ICC for their part in the Duterte drug war, is it possible that authorities just want to play it safe?

As far as the war on drugs is concerned, majority of police officers believe they were implementing legitimate police operations against targets that have been the subject of long-term surveillance and intelligence gathering.

Drugs have repeatedly been reported as present in over 90 percent of barangays in the Philippines. The police were up against criminals who were under the protection of local officials, beginning from barangay captains all the way to mayors and even suspected congressmen.

Based on the volume, sophisticated means of transport, distribution and street value of drugs, the drug trade was generating hundreds of millions, if not billions, of pesos.

That money provided drug lords and dealers funds to bribe authorities, judges, government officials, even uniformed officers, as well as money to buy sophisticated weapons, equipment and real estate.

And as president Rodrigo Duterte pointed out, drug dealers had guns and were not afraid to use them. While the focus has been on the victims of the drug war, the police also point to the cases where they were shot at, some killed by drug dealers.

One officer even took the time to explain to me that the numerous cases of “riding in tandem” or murders done by motorcycle-riding assailants often involved territorial dispute, drug dealers being cheated or cheating others and resolving matters by murder.

All these certainly had the police convinced that their war against drugs was a just cause. The fact that Rodrigo Duterte was elected president purely on a desire for peace and order surely validated their actions.

But now their retired or senior “kabaro” or fellow members of the PNP are actually being accused with crimes against humanity! The immediate concern is if this results in destabilization, loss of morale or a decision by uniformed forces to “back off” and not do their job.

Even last year, I already heard from PNP personnel and government officials about their hesitancy or reluctance to go after drug suspects that are above “user” status because pushers have protectors and backers.

It would be bad if drugs begin to flood the streets and addicts cause increase criminality, but if cops both past and present decide to manifest their resentment and disenchantment, Philippines, we will have a problem!

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Many people were certainly surprised that Sen. Bong Go’s name was dragged into the matter and assumed that it was a case of “guilty by association.” As for the police general, etc., everything falls under command responsibility.

Bong Go has been labeled as the National Photo Bomber or Selfie King. In informal and formal capacities, Bong Go was the gatekeeper, messenger and super-alalay of Rodrigo Duterte while mayor of Davao and as president of the Philippines.

To suggest that he had equal responsibility in the Duterte drug wars is to suggest that he was co-equal or extremely influential over Rodrigo Duterte, which is absurd to say the least. Making him party to a purely police matter is clearly an exaggeration.

To quote from the book of John 13:16: “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”

Based on all the independent comments and stories I have heard who dealt with Bong Go during his time in Malacañang, people I know personally labeled him as the concierge, a reliable messenger and someone you can count on to convey a message “unfiltered.”

In all the time that Bong Go’s life was under public scrutiny, he has kept his nose clean, his demeanor low-key and never once was he linked to or accused of violence or use of force against others.

I am not omnipresent but even when he was unfairly being hounded, his response was often polite protest, cry for fairness alongside with the humility to speak, never to confront his critics.

Unless someone can present substantial testimony or evidence against Bong Go, I seriously caution people from “dipping their hand into the cup of accusations.” It is only right that justice runs its full course and the guilty punished, but punish the guilty, not scapegoats.

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