Pubdate: Mon, 05 Sep 2005
Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/02/27/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

EDITORIAL: CONFESSION

THE culprit was illegal drugs, after all.

We tackled Monday on the story of a woman who was killed in her own
home, in a case of robbery gone bad.

Things got bad, indeed, after the perpetrator - who is related to lady
broadcaster Elaine Valencia Malit - admitted to police how he killed
his aunt.

Yes... The suspect, identified as Walfredo Gudran, confessed to
killing Malit by clubbing her head and stabbing her afterwards with an
ice pick.

According to him, all these things he did while he was under the
influence of illegal drugs.

Tsk, tsk... Another life wasted for nothing.

Time and again, incidents of violence or crime involving suspects who
are addicted to illegal drugs have been reported.

Time and again, the men - or women - behind these incidents are put
behind bars. But alas, that's all there is to it.

They are tried, and then jailed, but the buck stops there - because in
the outside world, there are other people - other men and women, and
even kids (teenagers!) who are using illegal drugs.

These people go on about their business in secluded areas, unbeknownst
the police or even their relatives of their "activities."

The police may have been conducting buy-bust operations here and
there, arresting junkies and peddlers alike, and we give them credit
for that. They have done - and are doing - their part, let's give them
that.

But other people feel that not enough is being done to fully
infiltrate the people - or organizations - behind the illegal drugs
business.

And this is what we fear the most - the fact that out there, there are
people who will harm other people, be they friends or relatives.

They are out there, head full of marijuana or shabu or dope, who may
not know in the end what they would be getting into.

Just like Gudran - who ended up killing his own aunt in a robbery
which has indeed gone bad.

Let this be a lesson learned for everyone concerned, and be not made
into a precedent of things yet to come. 
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