Sympathy For A Devil

Last Monday, a funeral service was held for Jeffrey Diaz, also known as "Jaguar", and the "number one" drug dealer of Central Visayas. He was killed in a shootout with police on June 17. It's pretty much accepted that he was going to surrender but was rubbed out so he wouldn't give away the crooked politicians and police that protected him. Of course, everything about this is shrouded in mystery. Just swallow the official story line of "drug lord gets killed and deserved it" and try not to think too deeply on the matter or its implications.

Was there celebration? Well, people weren't jumping for joy on the streets and handing out candy or anything. I doubt the average Juan ever even heard of Jeffrey. Just another corpse. Perhaps common people have the decency not to show their happiness, unlike Mayor Tomas who couldn't help but gloat  and brag about handing out generous reward money to the police who shot the guy.

Anyway, an estimated two thousand and five hundred people attended Jeffrey's funeral procession. Some of them were even wearing shirts with Jeffrey's name and face on it. There's official Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz merch apparently.

How could so many people come out in support of someone who everyone says is a drug lord? You'd think that the election of Duterte meant people hated these guys. When asked, the attendees would invariably describe Jeffrey as "kind". He was mabait. Jeffrey would hand out Christmas gifts and stuff. He'd give away a few kilos of rice here and there. Who knew people's souls were so cheap?

I've heard the Jaguar being called a modern day "Robin Hood". That doesn't sit well with me. Robin Hood robbed the rich to give to the poor. I don't recall the story being Robin Hood getting rich from giving meth to the poor. Heh, is this what "giving back to the community" means? It's like some macabre fairy tale. A man selling drugs to the poor and using the profits to keep the poor alive to buy more drugs.

The more I think about it, Jeffrey really was no different than your average politician. That's how it goes here; just give the poor free shit and they'll sell themselves to you. The mentality is also similar to those who support vigilante killings. Who cares about the means as long as it accomplishes a "noble" end? Who cares where the food comes from as long as we get it.

The same sickness runs through everything, it seems.

Fanboy Tommy

Tomas Osmena is Mayor again and already he's running his mouth on how he's going to promote the kind of "justice" Duterte is known for. Taking the election of El Jefe as a sign that vigilantism is now socially acceptable (possibly), he's trying to pick up where he left off. Recently, he promised fifty thousand pesos to policemen for each criminal killed. 

Mind you, this post isn't so much about the killings as it is the distasteful and unbecoming attitude of our newly elected Mayor. If you ask me, I think he's a poser and probably compensating for something. He's like an entitled brat playing tough guy. He may do what he thinks he must, but he'll never have the charm and charisma Duterte has and that's really not saying much. He's just a fanboy who wishes he was like his idol. What a joke.

Today, a suspected robber was killed by a policeman and already Tomas is boasting how he's going to pay the officer a reward. When asked by reporters about where this blood money comes from, the Mayor simply responded that it was "none of their business". Wow! Ka isog! Well, if the money comes from the public coffers, it kinda is our business, Tommy. Perhaps by saying it's none of our business, he's implying he's paying it out of his own wallet? In that case, I respect him for being willing to personally bankroll vigilantism; putting his own money where his mouth is.

Already Tommy is publicly bragging that it's one for Tommy and zero for Duterte in the imaginary scorecard for kills. How cringe-worthy. He's like that kid in class who thinks he's the hot shit but you just end up feeling embarrassed for.

Perhaps I'll write about my thoughts on vigilantism tomorrow.