Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

10 Percent Discount

Generika Drugstore Kalibo Branch gives 10 percent discount to all members of the Aklan Press Club, Inc. on all purchases of all generic medicines.

This granting of discounts is an agreement between Ms. Melrose S. Lunn, Aklan Press Club president and Ms. Josephine S. Montinola, store franchisee – Generika Drugstore, Kalibo Branch.

The said drugstore is located in Roxas Avenue Extension, Andagao, Kalibo, just after the Kalibo Public Market.

Serious Accusation

Carlos Gadapan is a presidential appointee and therefore his tenure of office is dependent upon the pleasure of the President of the Philippines. Gadapan was appointed Deputy Director General of the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). 

In that capacity, Gadapan hurled serious accusation of corruption against his immediate PDEA chief Jose Gutierrez. The accusation included the alleged shakedown of a drug suspect for P8 million.

Gutierrez denied the accusation and Malacañang defended Gutierrez which said, “Gadapan was fired for cause”. Malacañang also put the entire PDEA under investigation.

This Malacañang inspired investigation must be finished as quickly as possible in view of Gadapan’s blanket denial. Another scandal at the PDEA can only be bad news for the campaign against drug trafficking. PDEA officials and personnel had been accused of wrong doings before such as shakedowns, protection rackets and frame-ups. Raids on shabu laboratories made people wonder why there is no arrest made of the operators or masterminds. These anomalies are derailing the anti drug campaign and contributing to the continuous use of the Philippines as a shabu manufacturing base and transshipment point for international drug trafficking. 

Documents Presented

Gadapan presented documents to show “the wife of Gutierrez like gambling in casinos and incurring huge amount of debts”. Gadapan admitted he told the DPEA chief about the gambling and because of it, “Gutierrez asked the President to relieve him (Gadapan).

Malacañang said, “the President did not act on a whim in replacing officials. The whole story will be bared to the public”, a Palace official said. Malacañang must do reveal this soonest to make it easier for the public to believe the administration is not just doing damage control. It will be better for the anti-drug campaign. 

Two Boracay Tragedies

On Wednesday, October 3, two tragedies happened in Boracay. At about 8:00 o’clock in the morning in front of La Carmela resort, six (6) persons drowned while bathing. They were brought to the nearest hospital. However, four, (4) were dead on arrival, while the two (2) are still in the hospital. The six drowning victims are all Filipinos.

On the same day, a group of Taiwanese island hopping around Boracay met an accident. The pump boat they were riding, because of the big wave that hit, capsized totally. A 70 year old woman instantly died with a 47 years old woman. 

A 3-year old child was rescued. However, the engine of the boat she was loaded suddenly stopped before it reached Tabon. The trip to the hospital was delayed. The child died on her way to the hospital. All other passengers of the boat was rescued.

Resorts and agencies concerned must improve and strengthen the security and safety measures enforce in Boracay. Other beaches and resorts must do the same to avoid similar and other kinds of accidents. /MP