NAPOLCOM and the PNP have recently filed criminal charges against two police generals and 48 police officers for their involvement in the illegal drug trade. The charges were filed before the Ombudsman and the MOLEO, and people are eagerly waiting to see if justice will be served. The NAPOLCOM is currently conducting administrative complaints, which will determine if these officers will be retained, reprimanded, or dismissed from the service. DILG Sec. Benhur Abalos stated that these charges were a result of separate investigations conducted by NAPOLCOM and the Special Investigation Task Force Group 990, led by Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz. Former PNP Chief, now Sen. Bato de La Rosa, completed his public hearings on the matter and mentioned the possibility of high-ranking cops being involved in the drug trade. However, it is still unknown when Senator Bato will release his committee report. Tandem Cong. Robert Ace Barbers and Reynaldo Acop raised concerns about the conflicting statements made by the accused drug cops during the hearings. They questioned the seriousness of the PNP in addressing the drug problem and whether they made any effort to find the source of the 990 kilos of shabu. Former President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his belief that police officers involved in the illegal drug trade should be shot dead instead of being put behind bars. He accused the PNP of being the gatekeeper of the illegal drug trade in the country and called for the resignation of the entire police force. SILG Benhur Abalos assured the public that they are taking action on the issue of the alleged drug ties of some police officers. However, nine months after the seizure of 990 kilos of shabu, the source and the real culprits remain unknown and free. This has severely damaged the trust in the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as protectors against illegal drugs. Moving on to another topic, despite the controversial “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Registration Act” becoming law, the fight against nicotine and similar products must continue. In 2021, there are 2.7 million Filipino vape users, accounting for 3 percent of the world’s users, despite the health risks involved. According to the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 14.1 percent of Filipino students between the ages of 13 and 15 currently use electronic cigarettes. Vape regulations are now covered by Republic Act 11900, which was passed in the 18th Congress. Critics argue that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is better positioned to regulate vapes and heated tobacco products since they are considered consumer products. However, the Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Education, along with several medical associations, strongly oppose this measure, citing the potential harm to the health of the people and future generations. Despite these concerns, the law was signed into effect and the DTI has finished crafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Parents are worried about the potential danger to the health and lives of Filipino youth due to the widespread availability and appeal of vape products. It is a cause for concern that the government considers vape products as electronic products rather than serious health hazards. Unlike cigarettes, which are labeled with “Smoking kills,” vape products are attractive to kids and may seem harmless. Critics of the law suggest raising the minimum age for vaping products to 25, but the new IRR actually lowered the minimum age from 21 to 18. It is truly disheartening.
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