Past killings involving alleged drug lords usually occurred in the second district towns of our province. Recently, however, the crime is taking place right at the heart of the city. These killings have tainted the image of Tagbilaran as “the city of friendship,” aside from the fact that Tagbilaran is also known as the gateway to Bohol's world-class tourism destinations. News about drug-related crimes in Bohol have spread like a wildfire, and the whole world is already aware of these sad stories. In social media sites, people have seen gruesome pictures of murder victims minutes after they were shot dead – and the latest casualty in the evil drug trade was an alleged drug queen, who was gunned down by riding-in-tandem assassins along CPG Avenue, in front of Bohol Island State University (BISU) last Friday afternoon.

Earlier reports have indicated that the crime was designed by drug kingpins who demand nothing but full account of drug sales up to the last centavo. According to Police Senior Supt. Dennis Palo Agustin, Bohol PNP director, there are two ways a drug pusher's life would end up in the growing death statistics: drug war due to market competition and unforgiving demand for unremitted drug sales. For those who are entertaining the idea of entering into illegal drug trade, the last lines of The Eagles' Hotel California song has a similar reminder for those who join the church of darkness: Last thing I remember, I was / Running for the door / I had to find the passage back / To the place I was before / "Relax,” said the night man, "We are programmed to receive. You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave!"

POLITICAL MISCHIEF

President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines is now hinting at running for a second term in 2016, which would require a constitutional amendment. He has also suggested limiting the power of the Supreme Court, which, on July 1, declared parts of Mr. Aquino's economic program illegal. That, too, would require adjusting the Constitution. These threats jeopardize Philippine democracy. Mr. Aquino wants more time to complete his reform programs, but there will always be unfinished business. The 1987 Constitution limits the president to a single six-year term. The Constitution was promulgated under his mother, Corazon Aquino, after the overthrow of the 20-year dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Despite her efforts, the presidency remained a fount of patronage and a source of corruption. Mr. Aquino's two immediate predecessors, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, were charged after they left office with illegally feeding from the public trough. Ms. Arroyo was charged with misusing state lottery funds. Mr. Estrada was removed from office and convicted of various corruption charges, but he was pardoned in 2007.

Mr. Aquino believes that the Supreme Court has grown too powerful and that someone needs to reassert executive authority. By a 13-to-0 vote, the court struck down a spending program he created to stimulate the economy. It ruled that he had exceeded his authority in disbursing funds and that parts of the program consisted of irregular pork-barrel spending. Mr. Aquino came to power in 2010 vowing to rid the Philippines of corruption. At that time, the country ranked 134th in Transparency International's corruption index. In 2013, it ranked 94th. Mr. Aquino should uphold the Constitution of a fragile democracy if only out of respect for his father, who was assassinated in the struggle against Marcos, and for his mother, who died in 2009 after leading the “people power” that triumphed over the excesses and abuses of the presidency. In practical terms, that means he should stop butting heads with the court and gracefully step down when his term is up. (nytimes.com)