Death Treats Cant Stop Me

By: Mark Kadile

Throwback 2016 - Filing of COC in COMELEC Manila, from left to right, 1)Myself, 2)Major Alijandrito Tablazon, 3)PDEA Agent Jonathan Morales 4)PNP Col. Rodrigo Bonifacio, 5)Arch Nataniel Morales.

In the labyrinthine alleys of Manila, where the pulse of the city echoed the hidden struggles of its people, a group of vigilant warriors waged a clandestine war against the pervasive grip of illegal drugs. Long before the rise of President Duterte and his notorious crusade, we operated in the shadows, our resolve unyielding despite the looming specter of death threats.

At the helm of this covert resistance stood Jonathan Morales together with our group, Morales was a former agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) whose conscience had been awakened by the glaring injustices within his own ranks. Witnessing the selective targeting of small-time offenders while the true orchestrators of the drug trade remained untouched, Morales could no longer turn a blind eye to the corruption festering within the system.

Gathering a band of dedicated allies, Morales spearheaded the formation of our NGO and then eventually became an Anti-Drugs Advocates Party-list, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness that threatened to engulf our society. Our mission was clear: to challenge the impunity of the drug lords and the complicit authorities who shielded them from justice.

Our first salvo came in the form of a daring move—a direct challenge to the leadership of PDEA, the very institution tasked with combating the drug scourge. Morales, now the face of the Anti-Drugs Advocates, confronted PDEA Director General Cacdac with a damning accusation: why were they content with targeting the low-level operatives while the kingpins remained untouched, their operations flourishing under the very noses of law enforcement?

The question reverberated like thunder in the halls of power, sending shockwaves through the corridors of corruption. Morales, armed with evidence gathered by our clandestine network, demanded accountability, refusing to back down in the face of threats and intimidation.

As the spotlight intensified on our cause, so did the dangers we faced. Death threats poured in from all corners, a chilling reminder of the stakes involved. But Morales and our comrades stood resolute, our resolve forged in the fires of injustice.

Our gambit paid off. The revelations sparked a public outcry, igniting a firestorm of scrutiny that forced PDEA to reevaluate its tactics. Slowly but surely, the wheels of justice began to turn, targeting the true perpetrators behind the drug trade.

But victory came at a cost. Morales and me and our allies became targets, our lives hanging by a thread as we continued to expose the dark underbelly of corruption. Yet we pressed on, fueled by a sense of duty to our country and a determination to reclaim its soul from the clutches of darkness.

In the annals of history, our names may remain unsung, our sacrifices known only to a select few. But our legacy would endure, a testament to the power of courage, integrity, and unwavering resolve in the face of adversity. And as the nation grappled with the specter of illegal drugs, the Anti-Drugs Advocates Party-list stood as a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the light of justice would always prevail.

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