LUCKY FOR THE NATION to have a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as our Police of Last Resort. Luckier for Bohol to have one  of its own, Atty Virgilio Mendez, as the incorruptible NBI Chief Director.
The NBI’s Mendez had shown utter disgust with drug lords and  disrespect for their assorted paid coterie of protectors and body guards. A man who rose from the ranks  in the NBI- he had seen through the years-  how the Drug Business had corrupted the very sinews of government -making it decrepit to fight this scourge of society.
But not  especially in his home province of Bohol will he allow it. As an ex -seminarian of the Taloto secular Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and  with a  good Catholic background, he probably  knew that fidelity to the Constitution is also doing the will of God.
Backed by warrants of arrest issued by regional courts-and with the stealthiness of eagles- the NBI team hit one  drug lair in Tawala, Panglao and three in the city – resulting in a dragnet of 13 drug men,  P 5.3-M in  drugs and  weaponry. We wish Director to also  sharpen his legal eagles and have these criminals convicted pronto.
For this has been the weakness of the local drug crusade- long in operations and news stories but short on convictions. Civil society has noticed with annoyance.
Many people know that there are drug lords and ladies still lurking  in the city and towns- either so elusive as to elude arrest or too powerful as to remain untouchable. The NBI raid had proven it spares no sacred cows- and people are praying this will not the be the last  of the NBI drug raids.
Rep Rene Relampagos , who is chair of the Tourism Committee, could not hide his disgust (see related article) that all of us sweat every day  to present Bohol as a tourism jewel, then  there are snakes like the drug kings and their vermin- protectors who pull down Bohol to the pits.
The infuriated solon has asked for grittier political will to combat the drug menace and he cited statistics that “70% of the crime incidents in Bohol are drug related.”
Relampagos  mentioned the nationwide embarrassment nurtured by the shocking news that was given front line story attention by the major TV networks (GMA 5 and GMA 7, at least) and some major newspapers.
That the NBI operated stealthily on its own dramatizes the point that there is a need to have a parallel anti-drug campaign other than those run by the local police. The big haul value of the drugs confiscated  is a testament to this need.
Let this  also be a fair warning then – to all drug dealers and their whole network of conniving protectors. Their days could be numbered as the NBI has shown drop-dead seriousness and unrelenting dedication to pulverize their unholy profession. The public should encourage the NBI to do so – before the drug termites spread their dirty-nailed fingers and poison the  election results in 2016 with “drug money” for favored politicians.
No, they do not have recourse to national leadership for deliverance. LP presidential bet Mar Roxas made sure that the PNP chief replacement of the resigned Alan Purisima is not under the payroll of the drug Mafia as some of the candidates allegedly are. Independent  presidential  bet Grace Poe had spoken in her UP Declaration –  that she will make  it a personal crusade to crush the drug trade once elected president. VP Jojo Binay, for all the ills they speak of him, is certainly not a drug coddler.
And just in case- Davao mayor Rodrigo Duterte as president- we advise these drug pests-to either migrate or commit  kara kiri  ; whatever  will shield them better  from Duterte’s long fangs.
The NBI’s recent records speak of giving no quarters and taking none. Mendez asked the Yorkshire police  last summer to fetch a deported British drug lord John Haddily who escaped in 2013. The  NBI also  raided even a Born-again Christian church  in Paranaque that was used as a drug peddling market- with utter disrespect for Jesus Our Lord  whose reverent Name they mouth in adoration everyday.
South of Manila, they busted a “drug resort” – full of swimming pools and CCTVs- where payment fees included entrance to the R and R site  and a shot of shabu. A well-known Karaoke joint in Roxas boulevard was recently padlocked for hosting drug sessions and  a festering commercial trade of prohibitive substances. In Mindoro Occidental , Mendez threw the book at a Bucor (Bureau of Correction and Management)  jailer and a convicted drug lord -who continued to peddle drug in the highway and was busted by an NBI operation. That drug lord- Ben Tiu- reportedly offered the NBI P15-M to “hush” the case and just bring him back to prison. No siree, he  got the wrong number.
Not just because he is acting like a blue-blooded  Boholano do we doff our hats once again to NBI Director Mendez.
It  is  mainly because standing firm against this well-connected, heavily-financed drug syndicates already places Mendez’ one foot inside the grave. To risk it all then – when playing the game was readily available- is truly admirable in this world of compromised  principles and moral relativity.
More power to you , Mr NBI Director.
For comments: email to dejarescobingo@yahoo.com or bohol-rd@mozcom.com