Duterte: a poor drug user is also a pusher

A drug user who is rich is not necessarily a pusher because he has the money to buy the illegal substance. But if the drug user is poor, he is also a pusher.

That’s according to President Duterte.

In the President’s meeting with soldiers and policemen in Camp Nakar in Lucena City last July 28, he said “But a user is a pusher. Pwera na lang kung anak ka ni Ayala o ni Consunji o ni Gokongwei, ‘pag nalulong ka sa droga eh maghanap ka ng tao na isusuporta rin ang — sa bisyo mo. Then the other idiot will also contaminate and this must not happen.”

That explains why those killed (465 since Duterte assumed the presidency on June 30, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer) were all wearing rubber slippers. Too poor to even afford shoes .

Like Michael Siaron, a 29-year-old pedicab driver shot to death by unidentified dead by motorcycle-riding men past midnight of July 22 in Pasay City. His live-in partner Jennelyn Olaires said in a news report Siaron barely earned P200 a day.

Olaires, whose heard-rending picture cradling the dead Siaron deepened the concern of many about the inhumanity of Duterte’s drive against illegal drugs, admitted the tricycle driver was a drug user but not a pusher contrary to the words “Drug pusher ako wag tularan” on the cardboard that was left by assailants after shooting Siaron.

Olaires said it was impossible that Siaron was an illegal drug dealer because they were too poor and could barely pay for their next meal.

That reasoning won’t wash with Duterte. To him a drug user who is rich can indulge in his vice with his money. But the poor drug addict will be forced to push illegal drugs to be able to sustain his addiction.

A visitor in my blog, TonGuE-tWisTeD shared his knowledge of the illegal drugs operation in the area where Siaron and Olaires live:

“Si Michael Siaron ay pedicab driver na pinatay sa dati kong barangay. Ang mga pedicab driver, hindi yan mga tulak o mga pusher. Sa Pasay at sa ibang lugar, tawag diyan ay ‘runner’. Sila ang contact ng mga pusher at buyer at tumatayong middleman sa bentahan ng shabu. Ang kinikita nila ay tinatawag na ‘responde’. Di ko alam exact translation sa English pero sa pakiwari ko, ‘service charge’ o ‘tip’ either pera o konting shabu.

“Ang respondeng shabu ay pwedeng ratratin (hithitin) ng runner or ipunin hanggang dumami at maibenta sa ibang customer. Understood rin na pag binawasan ng runner yung pinabili ng buyer na bato, kasama yon sa responde kaya di dapat magreklamo ang buyer. Obligado ang buyer na magbigay ng responde sa runner kung humingi pa rin ito matapos mangupit.

“Ang pinag-uusapan natin dito yung ‘tingi’ ng shabu. Nung araw, hanggang isang daang pisong halaga may mabibilhan ka na kasing dami ng isang butil ng mais ang tawag ay ‘piso’. Ang isang gramo noon ay pumapatak ng isang libo. Ngayon yata nasa P4K na isang gramo. di ko na alam yung halagang katumbas ng ‘piso’ noon.

“Yang mga runner na kamukha ni Siaron ang nahahawakan lang yung mga pa-piso-pisong transaksyon. Hindi mo pagtitiwalaan ang isang addict sa shabu na ibalik pa sa iyo yung P4,000 mong isang gramo e ni hindi makabili ng pagkain. Ang mga talagang tulak ay hindi umaalis ng bahay dahil maghapong rumaratrat kasama ng mga customer at kung aalis siya ay mawawalan siya ng benta. Kaya nga merong mga runner.

“Ang tingin ko sa mga katulad ni Siaron ay biktima at hindi kriminal na dapat patayin. Malayo sila sa ‘pusher’”.

More appalling than the killing of those suspected to be involved in illegal drugs are cases of “mistaken identity” or “collateral damage.”

Like the case of working student Roman Clifford Manaois who happened to ride in the tricycle with a drug user being targeted by a vigilante group. When they killed the alleged drug addict who just got off the tricycle, they also killed Oman who was inside the pedicab.

The Philippines Defense Forces Forum gave some tips on how to avoid being a collateral damage in Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.

1. Don’t hitch a ride with known or rumored drug personalities.

2. If you have a known or rumored midlevel illegal drug personality in your neighborhood who owns a car similar in color, brand and model to yours, ditch your car.

3. If you have a resemblance to a rumored drug personality, alter your appearance. Change your hairstyle. Color your hair.

4. If you were involved in an altercation with political personalities or barangay officials, be extra careful and check if your name has been included in the list. Some officials have listed their personal enemies even if they are not involve in illegal drugs.

Most of all pray. We are in troubled times.