Name: Annabelle J.

Hona Date: April 12, 2019

Section: Grade 11 – St. Therese of Lisieux Subject: PHILGOV

The Guardian view on the Philippines: a

murderous ‘war on drugs’
Editorial (Sep 28, 2018)
Extra-judicial killings have left thousands dead. President Rodrigo Duterte is proud of his
anti-drugs campaign, but international pressure could yet have an impact.

Rodrigo Duterte has revelled in the “war on drugs” he launched on

becoming president of the Philippines two years ago, with its vast and
mounting death toll. He has said he personally killed suspected criminals as
a city mayor. He has told detained drug suspects: “You want to live longer?
Stay in jail.” This week he said that as president “my only sin is the
extrajudicial killings”.

Such provocations are inevitably followed by supporters insisting that

he is exaggerating or joking. His spokesman called his latest remarks
“playful”, though widows and orphans are unlikely to consider them
lighthearted. The campaign has left 4,500 people dead even on official
statistics, and 12,000 dead according to human rights groups, almost all
from the urban poor. In the first year alone, 54 children were killed.
Though campaigners say the pace of killing has slowed, it also seems to
have shifted away from the capital, Manila – and so away from attention.

Yet Filipinos knew what they were getting when they voted for Mr
Duterte in 2016: the “death squad mayor” of Davao warned on the eve of
the poll that drug dealers “better get out because I’ll kill you”. Indeed, while
he won the presidential race with only 39%, his approval rating, currently
at its lowest since he took office, stands at 75%. He has systematically
dismantled the checks and balances that might have constrained him, or at
least prompted some voters to think again. Senator Leila de Lima, who
dared to open an investigation into the killings, was smeared and seized on
highly dubious drugs charges. She is still in custody.

This week another critic, Antonio Trillanes, was arrested after an

amnesty granted to him was revoked. Government threats, restrictions and
an army of trolls have muted the media, despite the courage of individuals.
Maria Lourdes Sereno, the country’s top judge, was ousted from the
supreme court in May after opposing controversial government proposals.
Civil society, too, is suffering.

This makes external pressure all the more crucial. Mr Duterte has
given two fingers to critics. When the US halted the sale of assault rifles,
Russia stepped in. The admiration of Donald Trump has increased his
ability to play the US and China off against each other. And though China
and the Philippines have their own disputes – notably over the South China
Sea – Japan has cosied up whenever it senses the Manila-Beijing
relationship might be cooling.

But the international criminal court has opened a preliminary

examination of the killings. There is growing support among members of
the UN human rights council for an investigation. Mr Duterte has reacted
with defiance and threats. Yet those around him may not be as bullish as
they contemplate their future. The national police are particularly sensitive;
its chief has blamed “scalawags” in the force for deaths. International
pressure could yet have an impact. It must be exerted.
 The article states the view of an international website named “The Guardian”. In this article
it affirm that our president, Rodrigo Rua Duterte, very much approves killing his fellow Filipinos
just to execute the “criminals” that they suspected. It also says that Duterte is okay with having a
sin, only if it’s extrajudicial killing, which is in the eyes of the people behind the website is wrong.
There are also proofs or facts that he threatens lives of those who are suspected to be involved in
drugs. His spokesperson, and other supporters of the President think of it only as a joke. But it is
not appropriate to joke around about killing here and there, especially when you’re a president that
should be a role model to the citizens of your country.

Many have died because of war on drugs or extrajudicial killings. This includes the
innocents and the children. Now that the president is allowing the police officers to kill those who
will fight back when they arrest people related to drugs, it is more likely that the police officers
might just kill innocent people to actually gain some praise and awards, just to say that they’re
good cops. The president also criticized Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes for being involved
in drugs. He strived hard to prove that both of them are guilty and should be punished by law.

Still, the author/s think that the civil society is suffering under the leadership of President
Duterte. They think that is not fair for those citizens, especially for the innocents and children of
the country. And they do believe that this issue and thought should be spread by all for others to
be aware of what’s happening.

About the perspective of the Philippine government, they think that is just right to kill and
punish those who committed such an act. The president agrees that it is accurate to punish the
suspects. It is also a good excuse to eliminate the criminals in the country to lessen the criminality
rate, which is indicated high in the ratings. This might also be a chance for them to get rid of the
poor and to lessen the poverty line in the Philippines.

Majority of the government officials approve to this kind of way. They think that this is
the easiest way possible to deal with criminals, but they’re so blinded by success that they cannot
see that a lot of innocent people are getting too involved in the war on drugs and extrajudicial
killings. Too involved that there is a possibility that the police officers or government officials
might also kill them.
 Political globalization and sovereignty is indeed important when it comes to running a
country. But it is unjust to just kill anyone who committed a crime and not give them any chances
to change at all. I know and we all know that the government has such great power to control
people in the country. But it is unfair to do what they only think is right. The opinion of the citizens
still matter and the Filipinos also have sovereignty. So, it is not right to disregard the citizens’
opinions towards war on drugs.

Many are dying and suffering because of this. It might improve their political stand and
our economic growth since the poverty line will decrease, and so will the criminality rate, however,
this isn’t the proper or appropriate way to run a peaceful and equal country. It is said in the law
that there is a right that the citizens are to have their own freedom. But in this case, how can we
have freedom if our fellow Filipinos are the ones locking us up in their own decisions?