Rules of drug engagement

The new administration's war on drugs is leaving its bloody marks on the streets, and drug users and pushers are running scared.

Ordinary citizens, however, are rejoicing.  For many, the threat of being robbed or stolen from by drug users, or the fear of being harmed by drug-related violence, has preyed on the minds of pedestrians and homeowners.  So much so (and this is second hand info) that a radio listener called up his station yesterday complaining about why there hadn't been, as of yet, any drug pushers killed by police in his city. Imagine!

How frightening. To view as normal, even as welcome, a homicide committed by police just because a person is suspected as a drug pusher. The best way to threaten an enemy now is to report him as a drug pusher to the police.  And then take a seat back and relax as the police train their sights, if not their guns, on him.  (Which reminds me, where is my long list?)

But the politically-savvy have found a way. Take the case of the Caloocan political lords, the Asistios.  Luisito Asistio Jr. was reported to be on the drug personalities' list of the police.  As soon as his brother Macario Asistio, the vice mayor of Caloocan City, found this out, brother dear immediately surrendered Luisito to the police.

At the station, Luisito is reported to have confessed to being both a drug user and a former drug pusher.  After taking his confession, the police made him sign a pledge, promising to never ever touch drugs again.  The police warned Luisito he will be under observation 24/7, and that "the police will not think twice to arrest him". End of story.

Wait a minute.  What just happened?  So the drug pusher went up to the station, confessed his crime, vowed to be good, and he was allowed to go home?  No filing of charges?  No prosecution?  No being tried in court to see what penalty should be imposed?

What am I not seeing?  Was he not questioned who he pushed his drugs to?  Or what kind of drugs he pushed?   What gave the police the power to set him free?

Our normal process is for self-confessed offenders to be charged, and then a judge gets to determine, once the crime is established, what sentence the criminal should serve.  If the accused gets to walk home and remain under continuous surveillance, well, that's the prerogative of the judge as well.  Not the police chief's.

Yet, here, the police allowed a confessed drug pusher to go back to his family.  Well, yes, the Asistio family. Here's the accompanying police message to media: "The act of Luisito is good indication (sic) that might encourage other big time drug personalities to surrender."

For sure!  After all, if that's the way it's going to be, then there will be a deluge of eager voluntary confessions as pushers gradually realize there's a fantabulous way out for them.  After all, there's not going to any fines or penalties imposed. No jail time.  Or food. No messy trials.  No publicity. (Or at least, not much.)

All this will garner for the pusher is a slap on the wrist, and then they can rest easy.  No more fears they're going to be arrested.  Or has been disturbingly the case recently, suddenly gunned down on the streets.  No more looking behind their shoulders.  No more paranoia at set-ups and shoot-outs.

I thought the war on drugs would mean drug pushers would end up behind bars.  Or bleeding to death on the streets.Not just on a watchlist.