DRUG-FREE PHILIPPINES

One of the campaigns of President Rodrigo Duterte is a to make Philippines a

drug free country in six months. After winning the election and assumes the office he
started his drug on war and named it Oplan Tokhang which involves the police visiting
the houses of individuals suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade or as users
and persuade them to stop their activities and submit themselves to authority for
potential rehabilitation. But does it really free the country from these illegal drugs?

These campaign of President Duterte has pros and cons. With the Oplan
Tokhang, many people were identified as traders and users whether they are civilians or
public employees and officials. With the fear of getting caught, they submitted
themselves to the authority and swear to an oath that they are willing to be rehabilitated
and stop using or trading these illegal drugs. Crime rate declines. The streets are safer
than before. However, many lives were taken during the operation. Police or the
suspects were killed and many families were grieved for their losses. It is very
unfortunate that we have to lose someone just to gain something.

According to PNP, with their anti-illegal drugs campaign, the Philippines now
ranked as the 24th best place to live and work following the United States and ahead of
China. If the campaign continues our nation will have a secure environment, free from
danger and crimes. We will attract more tourists and our countrymen will feel safe to
work, live and do business.

As Filipinos, we have to cooperate with the government’s campaign against

illegal drugs. We must do our parts and help this country to become drug free because
we are not only making our way of life better but also we can guarantee the safety and
welfare of the next generations.

E. Essay: Human Rights Violation

Once a child was born in one nation, he or she already inherited his or her rights
as the citizen of that nation. However, these rights can be violated if the government
failed to deliver good governance. According to the United Nations, “a violation of
economic, social and cultural rights occurs when a State fails in its obligations to ensure
that they are enjoyed without discrimination or in its obligation to respect, protect and
fulfil them. Often a violation of one of the rights is linked to a violation of other rights.

A few examples of violations of economic, social and cultural rights include:

Forcibly evicting people from their homes (the right to adequate housing).
Contaminating water, for example, with waste from State-owned facilities (the right to
health). Failure to ensure a minimum wage sufficient for a decent living (rights at work).
Failure to prevent starvation in all areas and communities in the country (freedom from
hunger). Denying access to information and services related to sexual and reproductive
health (the right to health). Systematically segregating children with disabilities from
mainstream schools (the right to education). Failure to prevent employers from
discriminating in recruitment (based on sex, disability, race, political opinion, social
origin, HIV status, etc.) (The right to work). Failure to prohibit public and private entities
from destroying or contaminating food and its source, such as arable land and water
(the right to food). Failure to provide for a reasonable limitation of working hours in the
public and private sector (rights at work). Banning the use of minority or indigenous
languages (the right to participate in cultural life). Denying social assistance to people
because of their status (e.g., people without a fixed domicile, asylum-seekers) (the right
to social security). Failure to ensure maternity leave for working mothers (protection of
and assistance to the family). Arbitrary and illegal disconnection of water for personal
and domestic use (the right to water).”

Based on Appendix 5 of “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights” there are

30 human rights and the five basic human rights are: right to equality, freedom from
discrimination, right to life, liberty, personal security, freedom from slavery and freedom
from torture and degrading treatment. And the most violated human right is the right to
equality. From a published news article by News24 dated January 10, 2018 said that
the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) received more than 4000
complaints between 2015 and 2016 regarding the violations on right to equality. The
violations were related to the use of the “k-word” and the words “monkey” and “baboon”
and other derogatory racial undertones. This not only happens in South Africa but in all
parts of the world especially if they belong to the Third World countries.

Many countries that are belong to so-called Third World have the greatest
number of cases on human rights violation. This could only mean that its government is
uncapable of protecting the rights of its citizen.