“The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” –Sun Tzu

We join “concerned” Ilonggos, both in the Philippines and abroad, calling on the Iloilo chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines to utilize all resources in securing protection for Calinog Mayor Alex Centena, Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones, and Carles Mayor Siegfredo Betita. The three, despite repeated and emotional denials, are still included on the “narco-list” compiled by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Considered three of the country’s most outstanding mayors, they do not deserve to die because of false accusations.

It is better to praise 40 thieves and pagans than to condemn, and put to risk, the life of an innocent person.

Some mayors on the list are already dead, killed violently by unidentified assailants before they could clear their names, and neither the Philippine National Police (PNP) nor the president can assure an end to the killing of “narco-politicians” – in fact, Duterte has offered rewards for police officers who kill drug traffickers.

The president has essentially goaded and inspired uniformed personnel, sworn to protect civilians, to commit a criminal act; even siding with law enforcement when they were implicated in extrajudicial killings.

This is not suggesting Duterte and the PNP are on some murderous binge, but given the words and body language of various law enforcement officials, the president included, they also don’t appear to be discouraging such murders; a fear of many human rights watchdogs, “They may have even abetted it.”

The Duterte administration’s “all-out” campaign against illegal drugs has been overwhelmingly associated with a culture of impunity.

The 2019 Midterms are fast approaching

Some politicians (along with disgruntled syndicate leaders) may take advantage of the “narco-list” and order assassinations of certain candidates ahead of the 2019 midterm elections. Politicians on the list may be killed and their deaths would be attributed to “involvement” with illegal drugs.

If they are up for reelection, Centena, Malones, and Betita have been exposed to danger. Much like other officials on the list, their respective families are also vulnerable.

Without pointing fingers at Duterte or drawing conclusions about the danger the said Ilonggo mayors are in, based on his speeches, the president already said he would “definitely kill” former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who he called a “narco-politician” and claimed was the cousin of slain drug lord Melvin ‘Boyet’ Odicta, Sr.

The president says the connections to illegal drugs are made through “intelligence reports;” however, such reports could also be falsified or doctored./WDJ