#Realtalk on Duterte vs. Drugs

Image source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/files/2016/07/Drug-suspect.jpg

Ever since President Rodrigo Duterte launched an intensive war against drugs, news media flooded with horrible scenes of bloody deaths of suspected drug users and pushers everyday. With the increasing number of casualties of alleged victims, people of various social status have expressed contrasting sentiments and even took it to social media to share their perspectives. Difference in beliefs on the subject matter heightened the issue on basic human rights violation as families and friends of alleged victims cried foul over the 'unlawful' conduct. 

As reported by news portals, these alleged victims have supposedly resisted capture during the police operations and as a result was gunned down by the authorities under the 'shoot-to-kill order' of the president. More speculations surfaced on possible cases of extrajudicial killings which many known personalities both local and international have strongly condemned as it is 'illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedom' (Fedotov, Agence France Presse). Some critics pointed accusations on the police as a number of the casualties increased which the police however dismissed.

Besides that, the newly-elected President also surprised many when he publicly produced lists of people allegedly involved in the drug trade which included ordinary citizens and more than 150 influential officials, judges, policemen and soldiers. Although, many critics disapproved of  the action as it was produced without sufficient evidence and only threatened to ruin the reputations of the accused. Either way, the pursuit resulted to a mass surrenderees of  half a million! That's a bit unnerving particularly when this number shows those who have only voluntarily presented themselves even when they weren't on the official list of suspects. 

In my point of view, President Duterte did not only name-dropped to shame the accused. He shook the country awake and slapped us the truth that drugs is a hundred-fold more rampant than we have imagined. That with continuous indifference towards drugs, our country would soon be facing an appalling reality wherein drug cartels have supreme hold on our legislative and judiciary branches such as in Mexico. Duterte have given us a glimpse that the trade have infiltrated and corrupted our government. He opened our eyes to how massive the problem have become and how much the previous administration have done to control it which is not really much. Politicians have lambasted the approach and raised their concerns on its humanitarian issue. They, too, cried foul over its flagrant disregard for the basic human rights as stipulated in the law.

I, for instance, cannot agree more to their concerns. However, the power of the Human Rights Code have been blatantly abused by those with means and connections. And people, other than the likes of Duterte, who did not have the will to push through will lose to the amount of time and energy it needs to pursue legal proceedings. Just imagine filing half a million cases in court! I particularly do not have a background in Law and how it runs but I have seen how influential people have made their way around it, bent it to suit their cause and evaded it entirely. Money made their impunity possible. 

The irony of the situation is that the law was used against justice, when its main purpose is to uphold it and protect the citizenry. So excuse me if I say, my trust in the Law have faltered. It's sad how a lawyer himself gave up on the law. In a way, I saw Duterte's point of view.  

Many a spectator have condemned him along with his allies and jumped in the opposition's bandwagon. Foreigners have called him a mass murderer, a loose cannon. All in the name of human rights. But, how about the rest of the citizenry who have the rights to peace and justice? Specially those victims who have been robbed of their loved ones, innocence and life brought about by the trade and the people under its influence. It is in this context that Duterte have captured the hearts and interest of the citizenry who have grown desperate and whose hearts have hardened with the continuous battle-cry for peace, freedom and justice. 

Duterte is the man who have promised to terminate corruption and drugs in the country and impose peace and order even if it means an afterlife of hell for him as long as the next generations live in paradise. Therefore, I say, I understood him in his fight. Desperate times require desperate measures. Idealists will only see wrong and thus criticize, but realists will see reason and understand. However, my understanding doesn't necessitate the action as righteous, it just reveals the sad fact that it is needed because the law don't bite that hard and fast. Local and foreign media, politicians and the Church can condemn him. They have the right to do so. It's their job and moral instincts. 

But then again, they can only begin to imagine how it is living in this era and only helplessly witness the continuous crimes and injustice to the innocents because you are only an ordinary citizen with no power to make a difference in a world where the culprits have woven strings in the government. As PNP Chief Ronald 'Bato' De la Rosa said, "You can criticize us to the high heavens but you cannot stop us. We have a mission to do." 

And besides,  isn't it only right to vindicate them for their sins? Why should I care for their lives when they haven't gave the least to their victims? Why should I care more for the lives of these criminals when my own blood and family is in danger from their kind?