Aila May J.

Sitchon
2nd
term, 2nd term, SY 2019-20

SW 121

Final Examinations

BS Social Work
Prof.
Kenjay Salvaleon

A Position Paper on the Philippine War on Drugs

Introduction

The Philippines is one of the fast growing and industrialize country in Asia today
because of the good government laid by President Rodrigo R Duterte. Indeed, it has a
strategic location for trading and industry, most likely many investors’ shows there interests
to invest in the country. It has also many tourist destinations that captured the attention of
the foreign tourist to visit and explore the country. However, the development induces the
expansion and attention of the Organized Crime Groups (OCG), Crime Groups (CG) and
Criminal Gangs to operate and engaged there illegal business in the country. The President
sees the primary problem of the country, which is the abusage of using drugs and the high
law-breaking within the country. President Duterte’s war on drug campaign was formulated
to resolve the drug problem and increasing of crimes associated with it. He launched Oplan
Tokhang (Toktok-Hangyo), Double Barrel, Double Barrel Matrix and Double Barrel Reloaded
to prevent the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country. This position paper shows the
opinion of the student regarding the said topic.

Counter Argument:

There were 5,000 estimated numbers of suspected drug personalities who died
during the police operation and thousands of others killed by unidentified gunmen. The
Extra-Judicial Killings have lost many people’s lives, including the teenagers and the
innocent’s ones against the principles of human rights. Lots of people questioned why most
of the fatality in the Duterte’s war against illegal drug are only the poor? There are unfair
treatment and injustice in the system; if the administration wants to stop illegal drugs, they
should kill the drug lords to cut the roots not just the branches, they said. The war on drugs
of Duterte’s administration was committing a Human Rights violation. Just because on Extra-
Judicial Killing that the law enforcers are committing crimes and violating the Human Rights
due to obeying the President’s order to kill the drug related person.

The Extra-Judicial Killing shows no legal documents and evidence that it is under the
Duterte’s administration. It clearly shows that the Extra-Judicial Killing was mostly done by
unidentified or masked gunmen. As far as I understand, Duterte’s shoot to kill order is for
those pushers/ushers who fought back against the law enforcers during the conduct of
entrapment operations or search warrant. By this, the law enforcers are only defending
himself and not violating Human Rights. The Philippines Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEA) and
National Police (PNP) have been ordered to observe the rules of engagement in conducting
police operations.

Based on the PNP reports that most of the fatalities on a campaign against illegal
drugs are poor people-called called Street Level Targets (SLT) because they are so many
and a key player in the proliferation of illegal drugs in a community. However, the High
Valued Targets (HVT) are the financiers, protectors, and producers of illegal drugs. Because
of the Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs they were able to identify drug personalities
and create a matrix of OCG, CG and Criminal Gangs operating in the country that led them
to their neutralization both SLT and HVT.

Question: As a social worker, are you in favor of the current administration’s

Philippine War on Drugs, why or why not? ,

Yes, because the current administration would not implement these programs if it is
not for the means of the people’s concern and views for a better living of their children. Aside
from that, we can’t deny the fact that this program becomes a hot topic that hits the human
rights of the citizen of our country but as the program has reached to the point that the
situation is now evidently much more alright. We can assume that despite the emergence of
another problem because of this war on drugs the positive points still prevail. The people are
now more confident with their safety and become hopeful for their outlook on a peaceful and
safe living with their families.

As we can see the positive side of this campaign, in just 6 months of the war on
drugs, more than 1 million drug personalities surrendered on their own and voluntary to
rehabilitate their selves. There many people willing to restart their life and choose the right
path. Duterte’s war on drugs is the only way to eliminate the drug problems. It may cause
many fatalities, but dealing drugs only results to death, if the law enforcers don’t kill, other
criminals will. The Duterte's war on drug campaign helps create a place that is drug free. A
drug free area or community may seem impossible given the present situation, but it is
feasible as long as everyone does their share in the fight against drug. War on drug should
not only involve the government and local authorities, but also friends and family of drugs
users and sellers.

Conclusion:

In spite of the fact that there are many against of the Duterte’s campaign on the war
on drugs, most Filipinos are still strong to support the campaign because it shows the big
changes in the country. It decreases the drug related crimes. The big evidence is that there
are thousands of surrenderies of drug addicts due to the campaign of Duterte's
administration and making the country a drug free. As a social worker, we are against on the
man being deprived of their freedom to live, but as we look at the bigger picture. There were
a lot of innocence victims and killed by drug personalities. Apparently, the positive effects of
the war on the drug are that there are less drug addicts walking in the street especially at
night and that people feel safer than before. Government should enhance the forces of law
enforcers during Oplan Tokhang (Toktok-Hangyo), Double Barrel, Double Barrel Matrix, and
Double Barrel Reloaded to easily resolve the drug addiction to lessen the bloody fight and
help the surrenderies to start anew again.