Pubdate: Mon, 08 Aug 2005
Source: Freeman, The (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 The Freeman
Contact:  http://www.thefreeman.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3437
Author: Garry B. Lao
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines


THE KIDS CONNECTION: A COG IN THE DRUG TRADE
IN TANKE, TALISAY CITY

It was close to midnight last Thursday when Brenda and I reached
barangay Tanke, Talisay City to see a friend who lives in one of the
houses in the interior part of the place. The lights along the path
were relatively bright enough and we stepped up our paces to our
destination.

The place could well pass off as dreary in form or, shall I say, with
a scary outlook as I feel the thrust of curious yet suspicious eyes of
people tarrying along the way. I was suspicious of them too-on what
could be the activities around that make these people on the go.

How could there be lots of people bustling in that unholy hour? Some
are in clusters sitting and talking while others seem charged and
harried as they go about on something that may be of great import,
only known to them.

My friend told me the illegal drug trade in the barangay has been
reinvigorated and, by business standards, it has been brisk and
profitable, with bountiful supplies to meet the rising demand.

He said most of the people in Tanke have no stable jobs. Some of them
are fishermen but deal in shabu on the side to meet their needs. It
was sad indeed to hear tales of poverty being made as reasons to
engage in illegal drugs.

As we retraced our path on our way home, we saw several children-some
as young as between five and six years old-frolicking in the area with
gusto seemingly innocent of the shady world around them. Or so I thought.

Kids In The Drug Workforce

Tanke, being rejuvenated as a haven of shabu commerce, came as no
surprise because it was so in the past and we confirmed it is now. But
what struck us more was our discovery that the children are now a
vital part of manpower in the illegal trade.

We casually asked one of the elders in the place if it was true
children were involved in shabu deals. He answered in the affirmative
but only some of them, not all. Children, he said, make the best shabu
couriers due to their inconspicuous mien and they command lesser expense.

Drug dealers have resorted to employing children in their business
and, since then, they became the strongest link in the Tanke drug
trade and put the place as the most shabu-infested among the city's 22
barangays.

Children assume at least three varied roles: As courier of shabu; as
"mamarukay"-the lingo for a shabu broker between the seller and the
buyer; and as "poste"-another lingo for one who serves as a lookout of
policemen or tanods while a shabu deal is being consummated.

Tanke barangay captain Juanita Mabala, in a separate interview with
The FREEMAN, admits that parents have been using their children to
deliver drugs to buyers, find willing buyers, and be on guard for
policemen who might visit the place.

"Ako di ko molipod sa akong barangay kay mao ni ang tinuod (I won't
deny about my barangay because this is true)," says Mabala. A
government employee, who is also residing in Tanke, confirms Mabala's
statement.

But city social welfare and development officer Felipa Solana believes
otherwise. She said her office has yet to receive reports from the
barangay or the police that children have been involved in the business.

"Who are these children, if this is true? There have been no reports
or coordination from the barangay. How can we protect the children?"
said Solana confirming instead that her office has been carefully
monitoring these children and advising the parents to guide them away
from illegal activities.

DSWD records show that, so far, there are no shabu cases in the area
except for nine rugby-sniffing incidents logged in barangays Lawaan II
and Dumlog.

The Fall Of Tanke To Shabu

Long before World War II, Tanke was just part of Cansojong where women
from various parts of Cebu came to sell fish. Today, Tanke is a
separate barangay and fish vending is still a part of its life. But
Tanke has since then become a veritable district for shabu trading.

The police and barangay officials admit that shabu here is no longer
dealt in secrecy. Sellers and buyers transact business in full view of
other residents and, worse, even children.

A police report on barangay drug categorization shows Tanke on top of
the list of barangays already seriously affected by illegal drugs.
Cansojong comes next.

Fifteen barangays are identified as areas fast becoming popular havens
to drug pushers while eight others are threatened to be affected:
Mohon, Lawaan I, Lawaan II, Lawaan III, Pooc, Lagtang, Linao, and Biasong.

At least five barangays are less seriously affected: Poblacion,
Tabunok, Bulacao, San Isidro and Dumlog.

VIGNETTES OF DRUG OPERATION

Brenda and I tarried for a while in the coast of the barangay where a
resident informed us, in whispers, that the supply of shabu arrives in
that area from people no one may ever identify.

A dealer would subsequently take care of the distribution through an
intricate network of pushers who in turn have their own "mamarukay",
"poste", and couriers-mostly children.

A tricycle driver who brought us to Tanke presumed we were prospective
buyers of shabu. He asked us if we wanted to buy "bato", an insider's
term for shabu, which originally comes in crystal chunks before being
crushed into powder form.

We inquired how much was a small pack of shabu. He said it was worth
only a "piso," another term for P100.

"Piso pero gamay ra. Unsa man? Gusto mo mobalik ta didto kay naa ra'y
daghang kapili-an. Daghang nindot didto (A peso is only a pittance.
What? Would you like us to go back because you have a lot to choose
from. A lot of goodies there)," the driver said.

We declined of course as fear began to eat us up. A resident said if
somebody was new in the area, a "mamarukay" will hesitate to approach
suspecting they could be police assets. "Kung mosulod sab ka sa maong
lugar, inig gawas nimo nagtuo na sila nga gikan ka misoyup (If you go
in, people will think you would sniff shabu before you go out)," he
said.

A policeman who knows Brenda and I was shocked when we told him our
little "invasion" of Tanke. He said it was too risky and dangerous
because the pushers might think you are informers of the police posing
as buyers. Besides, if outsiders saw us also coming out from there,
they might assume we are involved in the business.

The War Against Shabu

Authorities say they are tapping civilians for surveillance
operations, which have so far resulted to the arrest of 80 people in
Tanke alone. These arrested people are now being brought to court.

But councilor Raul Bacaltos, chairman of the Talisay Junior Drug
Watch, said the long arm of the law might not be long enough to stamp
out the drug menace. "The fight against shabu is a lonely battle. It
needs everyone to achieve our ultimate goal," he said.

Bacaltos calls for concerted action saying, "If we wanted to solve
this, the effort should not only lie on the police authorities but
should include barangay officials, the different sectors, and the
community in general."

With Republic Act 9615, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, and
its implementation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the
government has taken up arms against illegal drugs.

But there have been many arrests, prosecution, and conviction of
people in the drug trade but then the business continues and
apparently even growing.

Mabala had mentioned about jobless people resorting to these so-called
one-click deals. Is it because of poverty or plain laziness of people
to toil to earn a living.

How about the children working in the trade? What could be done to
stop them before they become certified drug pushers in the future?
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