LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA, UNFRIENDLY TO PHILIPPINE ECONOMY

Res Gestae

I won't submit to the idea that, in order for the Philippines to
alleviate its problem on the proliferation of illegal drugs, it must
legalize the use, possession, growing, and purchase of marijuana.
Making legal the illegal is not a solution; it merely conceals the
root of the problem.

In the same way that eliminating the prohibition of illegal drugs will
not make this country, or any country for that matter, drug-free.
Neither will it rule out the use of illegal drugs, may it be a
marijuana or shabu, as the force behind the killings and other crimes.

In my two preceding articles, I quoted two American readers who have
given their suggestions on what this country must do in its war
against illegal drugs.

Both readers lamented on US anti-drug policy which makes America as
"the most incarcerated nation in the history of human civilization"
and pointed out the Czech Republic anti-drug policy as better
alternative which the Philippines could take as a model in its effort
to solve the problem on illegal drugs.

The Philippine government has been very serious in its campaign
against illegal drugs.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Anti-Illegal
Drug Special Operation Task Force (AIDSOTF) are concrete
manifestations of the no nonsense drive of the Philippine government
towards a Drug Free Philippines 2010. For CY 2005, it was reported
that the relentless operations of PDEA and AIDSOTF had created a
vacuum of supply of illegal drugs in the country, contrary to the
recent US reports (a.k.a statement of possibility) that illegal drug
trade in the Philippines has evolved into a billion-dollar industry.

On the records, the war against illegal drugs in this country has put
in jail 14,805 drug pushers and users out of 27,373 estimated drug
pushers and users nationwide last year alone.

Truly, the campaign for a Drug Free Philippines 2010 resulted to the
loss of civil liberties of this 14,805 drug personalities. And, more
will be added in the record as this year the country renews its drive
against drug traffickers and smugglers.

Shall Philippines be the "most incarcerated nation in Asia" by year
2010? Is this country willing to be hailed as Drug Free nation in
Asia, or shall it fear being condemned for having in its prison cells
the 25% of world prisoners by year 2010?

The renewed anti-drug campaign is part of President Arroyo's effort to
bring down crime, which she said had become a national security threat
to the country's economic recovery efforts.

In order for this country to achieve the full potential of its
recovery efforts, it must remove the obstacles in the realization of
its plan for economic development. And, illegal drug trade is one of
the major obstacles.

According to Mr Ernest Z Bower, former President of the US ASEAN
Business Council, the Philippines is one of Southeast Asia's most
promising economies.

He said, however, that the hysterical headlines dominating the
Philippine newspapers would stop investors from thinking about
expanding in this part of Asia. If alleging that Philippines is a
"drug traffickers' paradise" is potent enough to scare away
well-meaning investors, the screaming headlines of the legalization of
the use, possession, planting, and purchase of marijuana will surely
destroy every effort of the government to attract investors.

Thus, if Mr Kirk Muse claimed that "drugs are not the problem but the
prohibition of illegal drug is," I beg to disagree.

I don't find a logical connection between legalization of marijuana
and the efforts of the Philippine government to win investors.

If putting in jails all of the estimated 27,373 drug pushers and users
nationwide would gain for us the confidence of foreign investors to
step foot in our country, the Philippines must not worry being labeled
as the most incarcerated nation in the history of human civilization.
What this country should fear the most is for being called the "drug
capital of Asia" if it adheres to Czech Republic anti-drug policy.

Because should it happen, it will surely starve to death its 80
million population for investors would think of this country NOT safe
to live, work, invest and do business!