FAQs:

Is there a conflict between Self-defense and the commandment “You shall not kill?
Answer. Intentional killing of the human person is therefore prohibited. The commandment forbids direct and
intentional killing as gravely sinful, a sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance. [37] For this reason, every person
has a right to defend the sacred human life. The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to
the prohibition against the premeditated murder of the innocent citizens. The legitimate defense can have a
double effect: the preservation of one’s own life and those of others; and the subduing, injuring, threatening,
wounding, or killing of the aggressor…. that is the intended and the other is not. [38] Love towards oneself remains
a fundamental principle of morality; hence, one who defends his life and those of others is not guilty of murder
even if they are forced to deal their aggressors lethal blows. [39] In fact, the Catholic doctrine notes that if a man in
self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful, whereas if he repels force with moderation,
his defense will be lawful.1

What happens if you kill your enemy in self defense? Are you liable?
Answer. Self-defense killings are not charged as crimes. If you are forced to kill another person in self-
defense, you can avoid criminal charges as long as your actions were justified. The defendant must prove that
they were in imminent danger to avoid being charged with manslaughter. 2
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KEY TO CORRECTIONS
Activity 3.
A.
Situation: A man was lawfully defending himself and his family from attack, and in the process killed an innocent
bystander in the vicinity.
Question: Is the man guilty of Murder? Why? or Why not?

Answer: Murder is a form of criminal homicide where the perpetrator intended to kill the other person. In the
case at hand, there was no intention of killing the bystander; hence the man is not guilty of murder. The law
asserts the bystander's death as an excusable accidental killing under the justifying circumstances so long as
reasonable grounds of self defense existed on the part of the dependant.
B.
Write three advantages and three disadvantages in the implementation of the War on Drug program. Write your answer
inside the boxes below.

Advantages
--Neutralize illegal drug personalities nationwide
including politicians and militia’s involvement.
---Reduce the number of drug pushers and
addicts
---Reduce the number of crimes which are
related to the influenced of illegal drugs.
--Persuade alleged ‘drug personalities’ to stop
their illegal activities, surrender to authorities,
and join drug rehabilitation programs
--A little sense of peace and security
Disadvantages
--Resulted to extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and summary executions by law
enforcement officials (Human Rights Watch, 2017).
-- Demonizes drug users as not deserving of human dignity
-- Drug users, instead of drug syndicates are commonly judged of bringing
violence to communities
--Not targeting those who engage trafficking large quantities of illegal
substances (e.g., Caulkins & Reuter, 2017; Hughes, Barratt, Ferris, Mier, &
Winstock, 2018; McDonald & Hughes, 2017) Source:International Journal of
Drug Policy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/drugpo
--The “campaign has almost exclusively targeted users and small-time
pushers in the country’s poorest neighborhoods, not the drug barons
supplying them with meth, or “shabu” as it is called in the Philippines”.
(https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/philippines-drugs-
china/)

1. Is poverty a result of drug use or drug use is likely a result of poverty? Which is which?.
Discuss in not less than one paragraph.
Answer.
Drug addiction is not a crime but a disease among poor people. Thus, the problem must be addressed
comprehensively. To note, young men with few employment options resort to jobs that require high levels of
risk and physically demanding labor, which in turn fuels the need for substances that would enhance their
abilities to engage in work for long hours. In other words, drug use is likely a result of poverty, rather
than poverty a result of drug use. Within this context, the heavy police enforcement through the Oplan
Double Barrel policy resulted in high levels of vulnerability for violent effects of the operations among poor
and urban communities (e.g., Caulkins & Reuter, 2017; Hughes, Barratt, Ferris, Mier, & Winstock, 2018;
McDonald & Hughes, 2017)3

1
https://catholicethics.com/forum/the-self-defense-in-valuing-human-life/
2
https://www.google.com/search?q=self-defense+%26+killing
3
International Journal of Drug Policy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/drugpo

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