Shameless entitlement

It is fortunate that somebody in Malacañang who is well-versed in law has advised President Digong that the lead agency in the war on drugs is — and should always be — the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law of 2002 designates PDEA as the lead agency in the drive against drug traffickers and peddlers.

All other law enforcement agencies, even the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are subordinate to PDEA in the campaign against drugs, according to the law.

What’s the use of Presidential Legal Adviser Salvador Panelo and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, who are supposed to give advice to President Digong on matters of law?

Panelo or Aguirre could have whispered into the President’s ear that PDEA’s role in the antidrug campaign should not be subordinated to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, the PNP chief, will have to humble himself and take orders from PDEA in the war on drugs.

Bato was “atat na atat (overeager)” to see the PNP once again taking the lead in the drug war, which is contrary to law.

Bato has cited PDEA’s lack of personnel to carry out the campaign.

Listen to this, Bato. Under the dangerous drugs law, PDEA can deputize the PNP as a force multiplier.

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Sons of big-time politicians and military generals seldom pass the rigorous training at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

PMA upperclassmen bear down hard on scions of prominent people, so most of them quit.

The rigorous discipline that new PMA cadets go through forces many to drop out because they are used to the “good life” at home.

Not so at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), the police counterpart of the PMA, which trains prospective PNP commissioned officers.

If a first-year PNPA cadet is a son of a powerful official, he is treated like a baby.

Rock dela Rosa, son of the PNP chief, never went through the rigors of several months of hard training because he always has bodyguards watching over him.

Former Manila Times columnist Rick Ramos, who learned about Rock’s easy lifestyle as a PNPA cadet, describes it as “shameless entitlement.”

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There are reports that the controversial antidengue vaccine Dengvaxia bought by the government was grossly overpriced.

If this is true, former Health Secretary Janette Garin should not be blamed but Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and then President Noynoy himself.

The proceeds from the overprice could have been used for Mar Roxas’ campaign.

Garin’s only fault, if ever, was that she trusted the World Health Organization (WHO) which recommended Dengvaxia as protection against the mosquito-borne disease.