Latecomer: So What? (Referring to the title of the town Estremera)

Chill, critics call me a fanboy, I don't care. just like I don't care about some high-and-mighty journo blocking me because I saw Duterte as a bud and he was leading the nation.

Making friends is my thing, not yours. If you don't dig me 'cause of my pals, well thanks, but no thanks. child of God, sure, but nothing obligates me to spend time with you.

Still, it grates on me every time those leftist whiners scream about another slain drug pusher or addict. Poor Kian, pawn in a twisted game, peddling drugs on his block. The hypocrites, so quick to cry foul about being labeled a rebel, but happily pose for pics with armed rebels. Sigh.

The incarceration program I started back in '22 is pushing 3 years old now. The craft project ain't exactly thriving. fewer and fewer are snagging handcrafted goods, you know, post-pandemic stuff. But the women behind bars, they're relying on it.

That's why I can't stand the left for trying to paint out cold-blooded dealers and users as helpless victims.

They're far from it. And the bigwigs in the illegal trade aren't above slashing a minion or ten to achieve their goals. It's clear who's lying with a hidden agenda when they consistently defend drug offenders. Smh.

Spending three years in jail walls has taught me a lesson or two. Women incarcerated often say they're in for murder, homicide, fraud, or being an NPA rebel. But mostly, they're in for drug-related activities: using, selling, dealing, associating, or simply being in the wrong place.

"User or dealer?" I asked a convict.

"Both."

"Cocaine?"

"Yep, ma'am. But when I was just a kid, I used marijuana." She's 18 now, doing time.

For both genders, drug cases account for a staggering 90%. And yet, the left wants us to believe it's not a problem and that the real issue is human rights violations.

They want us to address the drug problem with kindness and mercy... and we're seeing it backfire in their faces, just like with Mr. Espinosa on social media.

We're facing a genuine problem, and it's only getting worse, so let's ensure that no one else in the drug trade can twist the truth and prevent authorities from taking a firm stance against the illegal drug epidemic.

Don't be fooled; drug addicts, dealers, and traders won't suddenly become model citizens with human rights advocates by their side. They'll fight, kill, and dig in their heels because that's the nature of the game. Let's not turn a blind eye to this truth. Let's not forget that if we eliminate all drug offenders and their accomplices, our jails would be almost empty.

The problem is real. Keep it in mind as we pray for a brighter future for the Filipino people on May 12.

-o0o-

** Stella, ex-head of our Davao website, is a Pranic Healing teacher and an Arhatic Yoga practitioner. Email: [email protected], fb: /saestremera, IG: @saestremera*

P.S.: Overwhelming evidence shows the continued brutalities and human rights violations under both Duterte and Marcos administrations' drug policies, disputing their claims of a "bloodless" approach. We should focus on victims' rights, systemic reform, and accountability.

Despite being called a Dutertard, I stand firm in my support for President Duterte, who, in my view, is leading the nation.
The livelihood program I initiated in Davao City, aimed at helping women in prison, is struggling due to a drop in sales post-pandemic.
The left often criticizes my approach to crime and justice, especially my harsh stance on drug offenders, claiming it promotes human rights violations.
Critics may tag me as a fan of Duterte's politics, but I remain committed to addressing the genuine problem of illegal drugs in our country, even if it means being labeled a rebel by some.