The ongoing probe into the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, reignited by the testimony of Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, should prompt caution and critical thinking from the public.
As stories emerge, challenging former narratives and casting new shadows, it is crucial to remember that the key figures involved in this investigation are not just impartial observers—they were part of the very system they now seek to scrutinize.
Espenido’s claim that the drug trade in Iloilo City was not as pervasive as once portrayed, and that its sources lay instead in Bacolod City, contradicts former President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of Iloilo as the most “shabulized” city.
The sharp divergence from earlier statements illustrates the fluidity of narratives that were often driven by political motivations rather than objective truths.
However, what is more concerning is the composition of those now framing this investigation. Many, like Espenido, were not mere witnesses to the Duterte regime’s brutal campaign—they were its instruments.
Espenido’s own admission of a quota and reward system, where killings were incentivized with cash, highlights the moral decay that permeated the ranks of those entrusted with enforcing the law.
The same figures who enforced this reign of terror now attempt to position themselves as crusaders for justice, raising the question of whether they are seeking truth or redemption.
The war on drugs devastated countless lives, disproportionately targeting the poor and powerless. It is these victims—more than the enablers, executors, or those who turned a blind eye—who deserve justice.
As the probe continues, it is essential that the public remain vigilant against any attempt to whitewash the past or shift blame away from those who were complicit.
The truth should serve to heal the wounds inflicted by this campaign, not to rehabilitate the reputations of those who benefited from its excesses.
Let us remember that justice should not be selective. The true measure of this investigation’s success will not be in the absolution of those who sinned by commission or omission, but in the accountability brought to those responsible for the countless lives lost or shattered during this dark chapter of our nation’s history.
The search for truth must remain unyielding, even as we critically evaluate the motivations of those who now claim to champion it.
