Editorial

Informality

State prosecutor John Resado’s testimony at the House of Representatives’ probe into the bribery allegations in the Alabang Boys’ case raises at least two issues that undermine the state’s stature in combatting the drug menace in the country.

Days after he was cleared by the National Bureau of Investigation of any wrongdoing in the case, Resado was confronted with fresh accusations that P1.2 million was deposited into his bank account on the same day the case was dismissed.

The prosecutor acknowledged the infusion of P800,000 into his joint account with his wife but said the money was his income from his various investments, including lending operations, belonging to the “informal economy.”

Resado offered no further details on his income sources. Worse, he did not appear the least bit bothered that his activities were neither registered with nor supervised by appropriate government agencies. When asked whether he was aware he could be charged with tax evasion, he said he could not be charged with such precisely because his businesses belonged to the “informal sector.”

This man is tasked to go after violators of the law on behalf of the state. His excuses show he does not deserve another day at his job. The Anti-Money Laundering Council should use Resado’s case to prove its existence is not for public relations purposes only.

Likewise, we learned yesterday that in all the time the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Department of Justice row has been ongoing, hardly any cases have been filed by the former with the latter. The implication is that the investigation has been hampering the efficiency of both agencies.

In the meantime, the picture of drug pushers watching the hearings and laughing at the way these officials trade barbs and accomplish nothing is too depressing to imagine. It’s nonetheless likely.

The anti-drug czar, who happens to be the President, has to step in to impress upon the two agencies that they have to do their jobs whether or not their officials like each other.