Criminals’ happy days are over

PRESUMPTIVE President-elect Digong spelled out on Monday his blueprint for fighting drugs, crime and corruption in government for his six-year term at Malacañang.

He enumerated his platform in a rambling, uninterrupted monologue before TV cameras and reporters.

It would be redundant to mention here what he already said on Monday.

But in my talks with him even before he decided to take a crack at the presidency, he constantly reiterated what he would do to stop the proliferation of drugs and the unabated rise in crime and corruption in the government bureaucracy.

As far as I can recall, below are some of the points he told me during those conversations over dinner:

Digong would restore the death penalty for heinous crimes: rape with homicide; robbery with homicide; kidnapping; drug trafficking; and the rape of minors.

If he had his way, he would have criminals executed in public to instill fear among the lowlifes “so they would not be emulated by other buang.”

Buang means a mentally deranged person.

He would rehabilitate drug addicts and execute drug traffickers and pushers.

For this reason, Digong would build drug rehabilitation centers in towns and cities with a serious drug problem.

After issuing a warning to mend their ways, traffickers and pushers, and recidivists would be pursued mercilessly.

He would take no pity on policemen who are involved in heinous crimes or take part in the drug trade.

They, too, would be considered lowlifes.

Digong knew that some drugs confiscated by law enforcers ended up in the market.

Law enforcers who “recycle” seized drugs will be killed in shootouts.

Close relatives of kidnappers would be held for “safekeeping” by the authorities until they release their hostages or victims.

If they kill their victims, “they know what will happen to their relatives.”

He would impose a curfew on minors.

Parents who tolerate their underaged children’s misbehavior would be arrested and jailed.

Drinking in all pub houses and bars would stop at midnight.

Drunk driving would be punished severely.

Drug lords at the New Bilibid Prison and other penal colonies who continue their nefarious trade would be executed.

Upon my suggestion which he agreed to, prison guards who smuggle chemicals into prisons to make “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) would be found dead or would just disappear.

Shabu is manufactured inside prisons or big jails throughout the country by inmates. Their operations are ignored by  guards and prison officials.

Criminals who kill innocent citizens without mercy would likewise be given the same treatment by their captors.

The speed limit will be 60 kilometers per hour (kph) when driving on city or town roads; and 40 kph when inside the city or town proper.

He will personally act on complaints from ordinary citizens who are given a hard time while transacting business with government, such as applying for a clearance, permit or license.

When I volunteered to let my columns in the Inquirer and Bandera, and my public service program, “Isumbong mo kay Tulfo” be used as a bridge between the ordinary citizens and Malacañang, he agreed.

“I need all the help that I can get from the citizenry should I be lucky enough (to be elected),” he said.

To ordinary criminals, criminals wearing badges, and government personnel who prey on the public, your merry ways are indeed over.

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