Position Paper: War Against Drugs

By: Rodel Sotto

Illicit Drugs is one of the biggest hurdles in the economic and social progress of the Philippines.
The rampant consumption of illegal drugs and criminal acts related to drug addiction has been a major
problem in the society that the current administration is actively pursuing to put an end to with its
campaign “Oplan Tokhang: War on Drugs”. This campaign gives the drug users a second chance to start
a new life away from illegal drugs. War on drugs campaign by Duterte’s administration is a good
strategy in order to resolve the drug addiction and related crimes in the country. As I have observed, it
is the best answer to stop drug addiction amongst the Filipino people, especially the youth, which the
previous administration has no effective solution. As a youth, I believe that to avoid from illegal drugs is
to create a brighter future for me, my family, and the community where I belong. 

Counter Arguments
When the war on drugs started, the Extra-Judicial Killings (EJK) immediately popularized in the
archipelago and Duterte’s Administration was charged of committing a Human Rights violation. A poll
released on April 20, 2017 by Social Weather Station found that 73% of respondents are worried that
they or someone they know could be the victim of Extra-Judicial Killings. The country’s top broadcaster,
ABS-CBN, reported that almost 23,000 people had been killed since Duterte’s May election and over
4,000 were arrested while over half a million drug users turned themselves into authorities.

Arguments
The issue on Extra-Judicial Killings (EJK) that the Police and PDEA are committing crimes and
violating the Human Rights due to obeying the President’s order to kill the drug-related persons is not a
valid evidence that the war on drugs is used to kill the unwanted persons with petty crimes and innocent
people. I would like to emphasize the President’s order regarding its campaign on War on Drugs, “Shoot-
to-Kill Policy” for those who will not surrender and to kill the drug addicts who wants to fight the Police
during Oplan Tokhang.
The killings being reported are actually the direct consequence of members of the drug
syndicates killing each other either for their own protection or to exact revenge against whistleblowers
and the other cases are due to turf wars among the drug lords and drug pushers resulting from botched
deals and swindling–taking advantage of the President's push to fight illegal drugs.
Conclusion

Oplan Tokhang: War on Drugs helps create a drug-free country, which may seem impossible
given the present situation, but it is achievable if everyone does their share in the fight against drugs.
War on drugs should not only involve the government and local authorities, but also friends and family
of drug users or pushers. To lessen drug-related crimes, drug addicts must not have access to such illegal
substance so that they will not experience highs or hallucinations that will drive them to commit crimes.
People would not need to steal either so they can buy drugs. Put simply, without the pushers there will
be no users.

Despite international criticism of the Philippines’ deadly anti-drug war, majority of Filipinos
continue to support president Duterte’s campaign as it has brought drastic changes to the country. The
evidence present is that there are thousands drug addicts who surrendered because of the campaign
making every barangay and community nearly drug-free and safe. Government should improve the
Police forces during Oplan Tokhang to easily resolve the drug addiction and help those who surrendered
start anew. The present and the coming administration should maintain this campaign on war on drugs
to eliminate the illegal drugs and make the Philippines a much safer place to live in.