War on Drugs, a Great Fight

(A Reaction on President Duterte’s fight against drugs)

I am pro to the so called “war on drugs”, but this doesn’t mean I am anti- Christ. I am indeed very
much aware that I was raised in a pluralist society in which different religious groups have different
beliefs about the morality of life. But the freedom of religion means more than just the freedom to
believe. It may also mean the freedom to make a move in accordance to what we believe or not.
Hence, we should not trap ourselves to the things that we learn from the scriptrures. We should
follow our instinct at some point of time.

If we try to take a deeper view on this war on drugs, it causes a lot of good things. One
concrete example for that will be my hometown – Pastrana, Leyte. I honestly speak that there are
some people of Pastrana who tend to use this harmful drugs, but as President Duterte declared this
war on drugs, little by little these people change. And we, as Pastranhon, feel more safe and secure.

We all have different stands with regards to war on drugs and it may depend ipon how we
see that thing. But I can’t balme anyone for having such motions – it’s your instinct though, follow it!
We are all seeking for peace and unity whether you’re pro or anti “war on drugs”. But again, I say
that I will stand as an avid supporter, I will stand to what is best for humanity.

Prepared by:

Joyce Mae S. Empillo

 War on Drugs, a Great Fight
(A Reaction on President Duterte’s fight against drugs)

From the moment President Duterte took office on July 1, 2016, he declared a war on drugs
and made it his top priority.

He said on his first State of the Nation Address ( SONA), “We will not stop until the last drug
lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered or are put, either behind bars or below
the ground, if they so wish.” (Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/commentary-
the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-rodrigo-duterte-s-9211678)

Just before the end of June 2018, his campaign against illegal drugs has tallied over 5,000
persons killed and 38,000 in jail, according to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Along
with high death toll recorded 606 government workers who were arrested in anti-drug campaign
from simple government employees, government officials down to uniformed personnel.

His move on drugs has made a huge impact to everyone local and international. He had
earned negative criticisms and issues from different groups. One of those are from Human Rights
group, foreign government and the United Nations.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet stated that
President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs is not a good model for any other country to follow
in stamping out the menace.

"The drug policies in place in the Philippines, and its lack of respect for rule of law and
international standards, should not be considered a model by any country," Bachelet, former
president of Chile, said in her address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on the human rights
situation around the world.

On the contrary, Malacañang contested the statement given by UN Human Rights Council in
Geneva by explaining that the PH government’s strategy was “anchored on the protection of its
citizenry as well as accountability of the enforcers of the law.”

These blatant criticisms and negative comments around the world did not stop Duterte on
his advocacy against illegal drugs.

It is not a secret to everyone that our country has been one the gateways for illegal drug
operations aside from Mexico and South Africa. Many illegal drug operations has been done and
been deteriorating the people and its country. For so many years, there is an increasing rate of illegal
drug users and pushers which is directly pointing the cause of murder, rape, robbery and so many
other crimes. We had been to different President and administrations, but Digong, by far, is the only
one among these presidents who had made a very great step on taking illegal drug issues.

Many critics said these a factor for his impeachment as President if proven that there is an
extra judicial killings. Others are saying that his administration is authoritarian and as the same as
Ferdinand Marcos, only before the ones that being killed are against the administration while today,
the ones being killed are drug users and pushers. Some are calling him as Satan or Devil reincarnate
for his Steel hand and foul mouthing.

If President Duterte was not elected, will there be a war on Drugs movement today? I
believe there will be none.
 All of us are aware of the effects of the illegal drugs in our body, to the family and to the
society. It is good that our administration is very bold on taking serious matter about drugs, but
negative things about this is how they approach this matter. Many issues of extra judicial killings,
mistaken identities and police officials fake evidences and reports. Some would justify the war on
drugs as a choice between saving drug users and saving victims of heinous crimes like rape and
murder. (SOURCE: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/commentary-the-good-the-bad-
and-the-ugly-of-rodrigo-duterte-s-9211678)

If we take on a deeper perspective, this advocacy is a Great Avenue to make our society
better. One concrete example for that will be my hometown – Pastrana, Leyte. I honestly speak that
there are some people of Pastrana who tend to use this harmful drugs, but as President Duterte
declared this war on drugs, little by little these people change. And we, as Pastranhon, feel more
safe and secure. I have to thank Duterte for making that bold attack on the number reason why
families broke and lives destroyed.

I believe our President knows what he is doing and this is just not an act of imposing
supreme power to the Filipinos but an act of accountability over his nation. His flight against this
illegal drugs had made him sacrificed his safety over the safety of the 100 million Filipinos. As said,
he was doing this movement anchored with protection of the citizens and he knows that he this
responsibility as the father of the nation. Just like a father who would protect his children even
sometimes it is hard to do so.

The bravery he imposed as the leader of the country made others feared him but many
other leaders adored him that made him instantly famous all over the world. His satisfactory rate are
still intact as satisfactory. As Goethe’s couplet said, “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin
it Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!” President Duterte had changed the way our
government has been doing for the past years. This change will be the start of something new. This
is just a phase for us and if this war ends, I foresee a light of a better future.

We all have different stands with regards to war on drugs and it may depend upon how we
see that thing. But I can’t blame anyone for having such motions – it’s your instinct, follow it! We are
all seeking for peace and unity whether you’re pro or anti “war on drugs”. But again, I say that I will
stand as an avid supporter, I will stand to what is best for humanity.

Prepared by:

Joyce Mae S. Empillo