8 out of 10 Filipinos worry they could be killed in drug war
Funeral workers carry the body of a suspected drug pusher killed during a drug buy-bust operation by police along a rail line in Caloocan City suburban Manila on early September 30, 2016. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on September 30 drew a parallel with his deadly crime war and Hitler’s massacre of Jews, as he said he was “happy to slaughter” millions of drug addicts. / AFP PHOTO / TED ALJIBE
Almost eight out of 10 Filipinos are worried that someone in their family can be killed in the Philippine government’s war against illegal drugs, a survey showed on Monday.
It stated that of the 1,500 people surveyed by Manila-based research agency, Social Weather Stations, a total of 78 per cent said they were “very worried’’ or “somewhat worried.’’
Also they were thinking that they could become victim of the extra-judicial killings.
“Only 10 per cent were not too worried and 12 per cent were not worried at all,’’ the survey, conducted between Dec. 3 and 6, showed.
In spite of the concerns of those surveyed, 85 per cent of the respondents said they were satisfied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against drugs, while 8 per cent were dissatisfied and 7 per cent were undecided.
Ninety-four per cent of those surveyed said that they believed it was important that drug suspects be captured alive.
“Since Duterte came to power in late June, 2,102 suspects have died in operations against drug users and pushers up until Dec. 14,’’ police said recently.
Police are also investigating 3,993 additional deaths in the second half of the year, including possible vigilante killings in connection with the drug war.
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“And men of leisure are never deficient in the ingenuity needed to enable them to outwit laws framed to regulate things which cannot be entirely forbidden… He who tries to determine everything by law will foment crime rather than lessen it.”
― Baruch Spinoza 1632 – 1677
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten.
— Seneca 4 BC – AD 65
Illegal Drug Cartels cannot operate without the support of politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers. And nobody can be expected to obey bad laws that infringe on logic as well as the fundamental right to decide on what medicine or poison an individual adult may ingest. The violence and the deaths ultimately arising from such bad public policy should always rest squarely on the shoulders of those who are responsible for implementing or supporting such foolishness.
Duterte will soon suspend the writ of habeas corpus, dissolve the Congress and declare Martial Law. He will then be free to assume both legislative and executive powers, enabling him to arrest all his political opponents and close down all media outlets.
Nowhere on this planet has any nation ever had success with the policy of drug prohibition. Many villages, towns and cities in the Philippines are being turned into killing fields. Hundreds of thousands may eventually die. Regardless of how much deadly violence is used, the drugs and the corruption will remain. Only sensible regulations that legalize the use, manufacture and sale of all intoxicants will bring peace and prosperity to this troubled nation. The War on Drugs was lost before it ever began.
Duterte will eventually be removed by the exact same people who were once his very loyal supporters. Gaddafi was stabbed up the backside while being dragged through the same streets he used to rule over with an iron fist. Likewise, Duterte will be very lucky if he gets to the International Criminal Court before something similar happens. Thousands of people have seen their family members and friends murdered by Duterte; they may not treat him very kindly when his time comes.
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