I am publishing below an opinion piece by Yvonne, one of the long-time member of Cyber Plaza Miranda, the forum on this site. I know Yvonne’s name but for now, she prefers to use this handle.
The questions that Yvonne poses are the same questions I have been raring to ask, in the absence of a press conference with President Rodrigo Duterte. – Raissa
By Yvonne
The war against illegal drugs resonates strongly with the Filipino people hence there is a tendency amongst us to accept the government news reports on this matter – hook, line, and sinker – often blurring the lines between reality and what might be plain government propaganda.
Is the war against illegal drugs by President Duterte for real or just illusionary government propaganda to create the appearance that he is making good on his election promise to solve the country’s drug problem within 3 to 6 months of his presidency?
Let us ask some probing questions to find out. First, let us consider the following events:
The media have been blanketed with news about thousands and thousands of alleged drug users and pushers or dealers who ‘surrendered’ to police authorities, suggesting that the war against illegal drugs are gaining strong traction.
Thousands surrendered, really? People surrender when they are accused of wrongdoing and the police are going after them. Have those people been accused of drug-related crimes and are the authorities looking for them that they have to ‘surrender’?
Drug users usually fit their profile – they manifest fragile personality and emotional deprivation, typically incoherent or unresponsive, depressed, unkempt, disorganized, prone to violence, eyes dilated, etc. But not these thousands and thousands of surrenderee – they behaved, they follow orders, they are neatly dressed by our local standard, they look socially integrated, etc. Many are smiling and some are even waving into the cameras. It is also a big contrast to photos or video clips of arrested drug pushers who would normally hide their face in shame or to cover their identities from the press. So, are those people really drug users and pushers, or are they ordinary people who might have been misled into joining “a gathering” or “meeting” to show their support in the war against drugs, not knowing that they are being labeled as drug users or pushers?
Those people supposedly ‘surrendered’ because they fear for their lives. But didn’t Duterte say they would be killed only if they resisted arrest and fought back? So why fear for their lives if they were not under arrest, much less if they had no intention of fighting back if arrested? Are we now in a frightening police state that the mere appearance or suspicion of wrongdoing is enough to require your surrender, or risk getting killed by the authorities?
Duterte made a very public and well publicized threat that Peter Lim, a notorious top drug kingpin who was then believed to be abroad, will be killed the moment he set his foot at the airport. Well, surely he was not killed when he set his foot in Malacanang, instead of the airport. What he got was a well-publicized audience with Duterte, and what looked like an offer for him to help the president in the war against drugs. Is Duterte really serious? Isn’t this a clear double-standard in the fight against drugs? A different set of rules for the poor and powerless and another set of rules for the rich and powerful? Isn’t this sending mixed, if not conflicting, signals to the drug lords and the general public?
Consider also Duterte’s public declaration that five high ranking PNP officials, three in active service and two retired officials, are deeply involved and are major players in illegal drugs. Did any of those PNP officials get shot and killed just like the lowly drug traffickers and pushers that we read in the newspapers almost every day? Obviously, the answer is no, not by a long shot (no pun intended). Instead the three active ranking PNP officials got an emotional audience with Gen. Ronald “Bala” Dela Rosa where it was reported that the PNP Chief cried with them during their face-to-face confrontation at his office.
Why did Dela Rosa become emotional and cry with them? Is it because the PNP officials are innocent and are wrongly accused? Did he cry in pity with them because of their destroyed career and reputation? Why cry with them if they are really into illegal drugs as Duterte disclosed? Shouldn’t Dela Rosa be angry with them and arrest them on the spot? Could it be that he could not arrest them for lack of evidence? And if there was lack of evidence, why name and shame them publicly in the first place? Was the turn of events for real, or was it just a side show for public consumption?
And most recently news of the turnover of police control at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) from the regular PNP police to the PNP-SAP was all over the mass media. The news included footage of Gen. Dela Rosa confronting the three drug kingpins – Golangco, Co, and Sebastian – who are incarcerated at the NBP, and news of the confiscated contraband – drugs, weapons, signal boosters, money, etc. – found in their prison cells.
Ok, here are some simple questions: why didn’t the PNP-SAF punish the drug kingpins for keeping the contraband? Why are those drug kingpins not placed in isolation cells, or held incommunicado, as their punishment for breaking the rules at the NBP? Surely, they do not need a court order to do that. Why do they seem to receive special treatment even at the NBP? Are those drug kingpins still untouchable?
Let me be clear. I’m all in favor of an honest war against illegal drugs and I’m hoping President Duterte will be successful on this front. But let us all be vigilant that this “war” is for real and not a pretext to impose a police state reminiscent of the Martial law era during the Marcos dictatorship.
kalahari says
PDu30 won overwhelmingly on his promise to eradicate/minimize, among others, the menace of illegal drugs plaguing almost the whole country. He has not even assumed office yet but the law enforcers heeded his call to arms and the bloodbath begins since they know already who are involved in drug trafficking, especially the pushers.
Even the shameful “tanim-bala” suddenly stopped and the entire bureaucracy seems friendly and accommodating. Many law-abiding citizens are clapping their hands on the side as shown by the Pulse Asia survey giving the President 91% approval rating – meaning they approve the current campaign against illegal drugs by whatever means, similar to Ping Lacson’s extermination of the notorious Kuratong Baleleng kidnap-for-ransom gang in 1995 that elicited sigh of relief from the moneyed chinese community.
Only last night, the megaphone of our Barangay captain riding in his service multi-cab encourages all pushers and addicts in our neighborhood to surrender and gather at the Barangay’s covered multi-purpose gym today for possible rehabilitation/mending.
“The urgency and the brutality (the President’s word) of the campaign against illegal drugs may be, to many, justified by the means employed by the drug lords. The argument is that no rules should bend us against an enemy who follows no rule, specially when it is the defenseless children who are targeted.” (Philstar column today by E. Maceda)
Maxima says
Propaganda = popular support = Duterte = right?
Propaganda = popular support = Hitler = right?
History has given us many lessons.
http://brainz.org/10-most-evil-propaganda-techniques-used-nazis/
I’m interested to know what the barangay mega mouth pieces said or promised for people to surrender.
Just read 30,000 surrenderees. What is the promise vs the threat?
Good for addicts to own up but make sure that appropriate help is available to rehabilitate them.
Again, Duterte family, relatives and friends must have PUBLIC testing on drug use
kalahari says
It’s too early to compare the President with Hitler, or even PNoy. PDu30 is just in his 23 days in office.
Hitler wants to conquer lands to give his people more living space or “Lebensraum” and he almost succeeded if not for the entry of the U.S. into the 2nd world war (September 1939) when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in early December, 1941
PNoy succeeded in detaining gma during his entire watch but failed to solve “tanim-bala” and shabu manufacturing in the New Bilibid Prison, directly under De Lima.
Just wait until December 31, 2016 and judge him at the end of his 6 months in office. Remember, his term ends on June 30, 2022, too old (78) to be thinking of imposing martial law to perpetuate himself in power as insinuated in the main article. FM did it because he was still young (56) at the end of his 8-year terms that began on July 1, 1965 and re-elected in 1969
Ancient Mariner says
It’s the Marcos connection not the Hitler connection which is the big concern. Enrile survived in politics and as a pain in the butt until he was 90. Digong could do the same. By then half the Philippine population could be missing in action.
No matter what else you may think ypu cannot deny he is initiating a genocide of drug adicts and dealers. Even Presidents are forbidden by law to do that.
yvonne says
Lest we forget, Duterte himself said that he will give the presidency to Bongbong Marcos if he failed to solve the drug and criminality problem in 3 months time of his presidency.
How Duterte intends to do that – hand the presidency to Marcos – your guess would be good as mine. Federalism, anyone?
aberato says
future PM has just been released from her hospital jail courtesy of the SC.
yvonne says
Or it could be Bongbong Marcos.
Maxima says
Good reminder. Sharp insights! God help us.
moonie says
I can see similarities between hitler and digong. while hitler exterminated the jews, digong is trying to exterminate drugs addicts and pushers.
with hitler, good men did nothing and even supported him. with digong, good men did nothing too, so quiet.
hitler has ss, digong has kapolisan.
leona says
Handing the presidency to Marcos is not Federalism,
. . . it is FEEDRALISM like handing a gift on one’s BDAY.
Pasa-iLubong [ Bisaya kini ]
he he
Maxima says
My spidey senses tell me that Duterte’s trolls are lurking within CPM village, and so are some non-Duterte fans. Good for them to read your post.
Keep well. Peace.
leona says
. . . like trawling Chinese fishermen
‘di ba?
Maxima says
I hear you. Thank you for your opinion.
23 days into office, we have a couple of hundred addicts dead. What is the daily average for body count. We have to wait until Dec. 2016, probably hundreds more of dead bodies? One death is one too many. And the most bothersome is the obvious inequality.
How can you compare Arroyo to this situation? Note that she may not have been a pusher but relatively, the accusations against her were more serious than those of the addicts. She is ALIVE and well-cared for at the Veterans! The addicts were brutally murdered.
Let’s hear from the dissenting opinion of Carpio, et al then we can go back to this.
BTW, the average longevity for men is 84 and power hunger knows no age.
leona says
The ‘KILLINGS’ are alright when reported that those KILLED fought it out.
. . . says the COPS who killed. Hundred are killed. Now, I do not believe they fought it out as reported by the COPS. It is un-imaginable at all glances! Hundreds fought it out!
Cops’ statement is at its worst as our ignorance that the iLLegal drug culprits fought it out.
The SOP now is: Kill Kill and Kill. Give a statement for official report: They fought it out.
Ayos!
moonie says
if there was fight, how come we never got to see a polis with black eye, o kahit pasa, no bruises, no broken teeth, or split lip. dapat may punit ang shirt ng kapulisan, o kaya, a button is missing. kaso, perfect ang uniform nila, shirts neatly tucked in, pants belted, shoes shiny. walang dura. yong mga buhok pa nila, akala mo may hair spray.
samantalang yong mga pinatay, nabugbug, may mga pasa at punit ang suot at basag ang mukha, nawalan pa ng footwear. namaril kuno, pero ni walang isang polis na natamaan, kahit close sa range. o kaya, ni walang isang polis na nasaksak. and yet, these addicts are supposed to be dangerous and armed to the teeth.
kung mamaril man ang suspect dapat positive sila sa gun powder residue. and yet, the polis cannot say how many of suspect tested positive.
yvonne says
North Korea’s Kim Jong-Il wanted to remain President of his country but his ambition was cut short when he unexpectedly died of heart attack at age 82.
Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who convinced the court to release him from imprisonment (for humanitarian reasons due to poor health and old age) at age 92 would not resign his senatorial seat.
Maxima says
Funny but it’s not really. Too old to be jailed but young enough to stay in the senate.
Plead as you deem convenient. He is past his best before date. Heck, he doesn’t seem to think that anytime now, his Boss up there will be calling him .
kalahari says
Johnny Enrile bade farewell to politics on the last senate session on June 4, 2016 but his term officially ended on June 30, 2016, having been re-elected for 2 consecutive terms from 2004 and 2010 senatorial elections.
Still strong at 92, Johnny said he won’t accept any govt position but would closely watch the current issues – and may still practice his law profession probably as a defense counsel of gigi in her bid for bail.
leona says
If Johnny last until the Con-Con elections and thereafter, he will RUN for Con-Con delegate,
and may RUN for the presidency of the Con-Con too.
He won’t retire at all. He’ll be fighting it out like those killed by the COPS.
he he
kalahari says
Enrile reprises MacArthur: “Old politicians never die, they’ll just fade away.”
This was how Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile bade goodbye to his senate colleagues on Monday (6/6/16) as he ended his 27 years in congress – serving four terms or 24 years in the Senate and 3 years in the Lower House.
He also served in the executive branch in various capacities for 23 years, mostly under Martial Law, for a total of 50 years in the govt.
His secret for longevity – Ilokano-style dishes
moonie says
enrile’s secret to longevity is not so secret. he has tons of money and can afford the best of medical care, top class stem cell treatments here and overseas, immediate admittance to best hospitals of the county and attended by specialists doctors who see and monitor all his health needs, costly medicines more potent than their counterpart, not easily available to the public, are easily accessibly to him. so much so that I severely doubt if enrile can die. he is more pickled and preserved than museum artefacts, he, he, he,
also, enrile lead stress free life, in case of trouble, he has bottomless pocket and can buy himself out of trouble. can afford the best of lawyers who can keep him out of jail, has enormous contacts and strong influence in the supreme court that turned blind eye to his wrongdoings.
at his age, enrile is limited to what he can eat, he is pumped full of drugs, his medicine cabinet is like a botica.
pls, lang po, I don’t want to insult ordinary ilocanos, unless they have enrile’s lifestyle, unlimited money and far and reaching contacts of people in higher places, they may not live as long.
food is good, but is not enough. man liveth not by bread alone.
moonie says
it may have been enrile’s bust, statue? that got pulled down in one sityo. the people there got tired of looking at it.
leona says
Hitler no comparison to Mao Mao of China.
“At least 45 million people were worked, starved or beaten to death in China over these four years; the worldwide death toll of the Second World War was 55 million.”
Link
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/maos-great-leap-forward-killed-45-million-in-four-years-2081630.html
moonie says
sa bayan natin, our population is close to 100 millions. digong still has long way to go.
moonie says
supply and demand, the more people are dying, the more people are being born.
Maxima says
Excellent piece!
I am with you. I am not convinced that all those who “surrendered” are drug addicts/surrenderees. I think Duterte and his minions, learned a lot from his idol Marcos, and staged/hired those surrenderees. Am I in denial with the extent of the drug problem in our country? Me thinks not. Having seen and read about those addicts, you are right, they absolutely don’t look the part.
Granted that they are real surrenderees, what has been done after they surrendered? He wanted to eliminate the drug problem, but it doesn’t seem like he has a well-thought out program to rehabilitate and help them, to truly erase the drug issue. Putting all of them in packed jail cells will not help. They would have been going through immense withdrawal phase or even depression which will be dangerous both to themselves and the people around them. Clearly, that is not an effective way to beat the drug menace.
Having read how the rich subdivisions have protected their residents simply by certifying that they have no drug addicts in their communities, one can see the discriminatory treatment for residents of Dasmarinas Village and Dasmarinas Gilid, as an example. How influential are the barangay leaders in protecting or snitching on their residents.
Duterte government is on full throttle propaganda, setting up the stage for his dictatorial plans. He is eyeing martial law. Consider these: emergency power for traffic problems (courtesy of Arroyo and her friends)’ federalism (he will be called prime minister mayor), muzzling the press. He is trying to buy the loyalty of the military (unfortunately no money funding allocation to double up their salaries).
I wonder if cops are getting much more money now. Are they being rewarded whenever they take down those addicts/pushers. That would easily make them trigger happy. Are they police officers or mercenaries?
His “public” phone call to appoint Leni Robredo is a very strategic move, all for a big show. He could have appointed her in a way just like the others.
Appointing Leni gives him some brownie points, sanitizes himself a bit and makes him look good. Besides, He keeps his “enemy” (nothing personal closer.) I must say that I am impressed with how Leni is handling it–taking the portfolio, yet she manages to be close yet distanced, and keeps herself clean and not drawn to Duterte’s “lair”.
And the Mind numbing sarsuela before the congress and the senate to investigate De Lima, rather than digging deep into the vigilante issue? The way they behave, they manifest that they are in collusion with something, diverting the subject, covering up. Do they know something? shame, shame. Do we still have decent men and women left out there? Would it be too unreal optimism that many are being quiet at this time, just because they are still trying to assess who is Digong and what he is capable of doing. I am hoping that some positive
yvonne says
My evil sister!
leona says
Huh?
Like the HukBALAhaps surrending in the ’50s? That was works of the CIA in many some of it.
Now, the number of surrenderees is into thousands! Many do as they will be POINTED OUT as iLLegal drug happiers by other drug users. A CHAIN REACTION is happening here.
moonie says
they’re recycled surrenderees! pabalik balik. after a while, many have learned to use fake names.
leona says
. . . he he he.
Balikbayans druggers (your mean). . . never gets cured!
moonie says
true, them balikbayan druggers have lost 12% of their brains, sabi ni brain surgeon duterte. doctor na si duterte ngayon, expert pa on drugs addiction, his medical degree gained in university of durian. dr ubial’s job is done for her, thanks to digong.
Ancient Mariner says
@Yvonne. If you have not yet done so may I suggest that you read RA9851 which appears to cover the killings currently being carried out on behalf of Duterte.
It covers genocide and other illegal killings and includes a President amongst those who are subject to the content of RA9851.
Duterte should read it also.
Dyan says
Ewan ko lang kung ako lang ito ha, pero gulung gulo talaga ako sa mga nangyayari sa bansa natin ngayon. Wala pang isang buwan na nakakaupo ang bagong administrasyon pero ang dami ng nangyari. Kung titimbangin, mas marami ang hindi maganda sa maganda. Tsaka parang paurong tayo- mga lumang mukha sa gabinete, nagsusulputan ang mga Marcos, mga bata ni Erap, mga alipores ni GMA. Sa tinatakbo ng mga pangyayari, saan kaya tayo pupulutin sa 3 or 6 na buwan? Sinu-sino ang mga kalaban at sinu-sino ang mga kakampi?
Wala akong magagawa ngayon kungdi ang magdasal.
vander says
isang napakalaking kaganapan ang pag-abswelto kay gloria ng SC.
hindi ko kayang limiin ang hatol nila.
pasalubong ba iyan?
o pabaon sa bumabang si pnoy?
mabuti na lang at ung Jul 12, 2016 PCA verdict na pumabor sa Phl ay nagkapagpagaan ng ating mga hilahil.
sana ay makaisip ang marami nating mamamayan ng isang magandang solusyon upang mawakasan na ang kabulastugan ng mga tsino sa WPS.
leona says
Tuloy mo ang dasal. Prayer is powerful.
+ + +
Amen.
bong cura says
What I want to know also is who are the people doing the groundwork on constitutional change. I think the extra-judicial killings serve many purposes.
It purports for change when it actually is an attack on our freedom and liberrty.
It feeds the killing frenzy of the people and it makes them accept the violations of human rights which have been routine. It distracts the people from the issues that matter like poverty. By the way, traffic which is still as heavy as before.
It is a gigantic cover-up to keep the more controversial (I want to say sinister but controversial will do for now.) projects of Dictator-Wannabe Duterte.
leona says
So many of the 16 million votes are the people doing the groundwork on constitutional change.
But unfortunately so many of them are also now the victims of the killings. . . maybe my opn.
It is a change really.
tsk tsk tsk
yvonne says
In a highly publicized statement confirming the death of a Mico Tan, described by the police as a “very big, very big” drug lord, PNP chief Gen Dela Rosa declared that more high value targets will be killed in the coming days.
Why ‘will be killed’? Why not ‘will be captured’?
“Tama ‘yung palagi tayong kini-criticize na kung mamamatay ba ‘yung street pushers lang daw. Ngayon ito na, nakita ninyo, malaking drug lord—patay rin, ‘di ba?” “Huwag kayong magmadali at marami pa tayong mapapatay diyan na high-value target. Hintayin lang ninyo.”
When killed, Mico Tan was alone and was trying to escape from pursuing policemen. Was he killed, and not given a chance to surrender, because the Duterte administration was feeling the heat that only the poor and powerless drug pushers are getting killed, and not the rich and powerful drug lord?
If we read between the lines of what Dela Rosa said it become obvious that this is the plan – kill some top drug lords to give Duterte supporters something to brag about. Kill more Mico Tans.
But just how big was the “very big, very big” drug lord Mico Tan? Is Dela Rosa giving him more value and prestige as a drug lord, than he really was, for propaganda purposes so that the authorities can finally brag that they killed a big fish, a very big fish?
From the little information shared to the public about the shooting incident, Mico Tan was alone. He did not have a driver. He did not have a bodyguard. He was driving a modest economy car. And we are to believe that he was a “very big, very big” drug lord?
If Mico Tan was given the chance to surrender, maybe we would know more from him.
Leonardo C Faustino says
He was probably killed by his police or political protectors so he could not implicate them.
leona says
Tama ka yvonne. . . some bodies will now be drug lords when they are dead.
Two circumstances: When dead is one. Another is when living is one. The latter does not yet happen.
ha ha ha
yvonne says
Now filming:
Lord of the (Drug) Rings
Maxima says
Wicked!
bong cura says
Dictator-Wannabe Duterte (DWD) is uitilizing a real problem to divert the attention of the people from its behind-the-scenes moves.
What we do know is that DWD’s economic team plans to raise taxes which will negate any “tax reform”. Income taxes will be rationalized but whatever additional funds that will go to the pocket of the wage-earner will be taken back by higher petroleum taxes, more VAT and the soft drinks tax. Instead of focusing on improving on tax collection as he promised, DWD will make the burden of ordinary people heavier.
When DWD opens his mouth however, it is to undo real change like not respecting the Paris accords for which the Philippines worked hard for. This will only benefit the rich people who own the fossil-fuel-powered plants, the same people who made a killing during the Ramos administration.
DWD has been silent on a war on poverty which should take precedence over all other matters. Thus far it has been a presidency of one-liners. Except for the extra-judicial killings, there have been no real initiatives which will improve the lot of the people. The traffic is still not moving. Everyday the public is fed with its daily dose of extra-judicial killings to feed the killing frenzy and to ignore the more substantive matters. The propaganda mill and its army of internet trolls continues to misinform and misdirect the people.
Indeed we should be all the more vigilant of the maneuverings of DWD.
leona says
1. Poverty invites going into iLLegal drugs.
2. Going into iLLegal drugs invites poverty.
So, which really causes each one? DWD believes it’s No. 2. You believe it’s No. 1.
Probably DWD does not see your point. DWD has 16 million points.
tsk tsk
vivian says
we need a body count to know for real the number of dead bodies shoot by the cops, masked men, daily but who will do it? it must be from the people of PDuts , but how credible then? this is already alarming and apart from extra- judicial killings done by the cops there are masked men who do the same. should we leave wondering what will happen after this? on July 25, is his SONA, for sure he will boast his accomplishment before 100 days is over. I did not feel any excitement for the change he is talking.instead, I really felt scared.
leona says
Yes, a body count. Like a NEON lights BOARD similar to count down on New Year’s Eve. But this NEON light is counting UP:
Start at 100.
Let us see this Counting Board in NEON LIGHTS. . . blinking counting up in a famous public place.
tsk tsk
yvonne says
Thank you Raissa for posting my opinion piece as a guest blog.
I sense that the unprecedented rush to declare and implement war on illegal drugs, to the point of side-stepping constitutional rights, just to create the appearance of success, is part of a greater political calculus.
Duterte needs to be seen as a person who can make things done rather quickly, even if it borders on extra-judicial, because he needs very badly to gain the political capital necessary to advance his other political agenda, foremost of which is to institute federalism in the country.
If he cemented his reputation as the “get it done person” he would likely, among other things, ram down our throats his brand of federalism.
duquemarino says
Subscribing.
vander says
@yvonne,
if duterte can solve the problems in the local level, we might as well forget that federalism thing.
like you i want him to succeed in this anti-drug, anti-crime drive outside of extra-judicial manner.
he must understand that his friend makoy made us pinoys paranoid of the ml thing so any attempt of cha-cha or amendment to our consti is always a suspect to most of us.
if our lawmakers are really brilliant, they can formulate new law that shall solve our system sans cha-cha.
yvonne says
Honestly I want Duterte to succeed in his war against illegal drugs and criminality – as long as it is done within the bounds of our laws. I’ll be happy if is successful in this fight and I’ll be among those who will congratulate him.
He must recognize though that the war he is waging on the national level is going to be very different from that he waged on the local level.
When he was Mayor of Davao it was easy for him to threaten the criminals – “don’t do it here or I will kill you.” And the criminals heeded him and they move their trade outside of Davao. Sure it created an appearance that he was successful in bringing down criminality in Davao. But it didn’t really solve the problem – it just became somebody else’s problem, outside of Davao.
Now that he is president, what would he say? “Don’t do it here, or I will kill you.” Where will they go…to China?
vander says
“Now that he is president, what would he say? “Don’t do it here, or I will kill you.” Where will they go…to China?”
siguro may gray area ang success na iyan sa davao.
kung talagang maunlad at succesful, baka walang mula-davao dito sa MM.
o magsisiuwi na lang sila dahil talagang napakahirap mamuhay sa MM.
or ang mga karatig lugar ay sa davao na magsisilikas imbes na sa malayong luzon.
ilang nakadaupang palad ko ang nangarito sa aming lugar.
baka may ibig sabihin iyon.
maaaring mas maganda para sa kanila ang lugar namin kaysa kanilang inalisan.
BonaV says
Marami pa ring addict sa Davao. In fact alam ng mga tagaroon kung nasaan ang lugar ng mga addicts. May kamaganak ako isang buwan at pabalik balik sa Davao on business trip simula June. Gusto niya magpahatid sa isang sikat na ihaw ihaw pero winarningan siya ng local partner niya na huwag pupunta doon dahil maraming addict. Sinubukan niya magpahatid sa taxi driver pero ayaw siya ng dalhin doon kesehodang mawalan siya ng pasahero.
Vhin AB says
Why don’t we have a body count just like during Iraq war of George W. Bush. The US media published the number of dead soldiers every single day thru tv (like CNN) and print. That way the American people were aware of casualties and pushed the govt to leave Iraq or at least cut the number of troops. Then put the body count here via extra judicial killings or in FB so people will be aware, too.
I’ve seen in the news about the killings and eyewitness account said that there was no chance for the suspect to surrender. Most of the time it was an overkill, literally.
In just 23 days of Duterte as president, there are more or less 200 deaths or 8-9 deaths per day. Whoah! In 6 years that would be around 18,000 dead people, yes, speaking of genocide as per @Ed Celis. Apo Marcos record of killing his own people is made to be broken after all.
Danny Agoncillo says
These questions are spot on, and should be asked. The blind obedience and unquestioning acceptance of everything Malacanang says or does by the 16 million who voted for Duterte is appalling. This is the kind of situation that favors the resurrection of fascism and dictatorship.
leona says
Appalling indeed! The 30 million plus the 16 million are now in a state of SHOCK !
Maybe Shocking-Paralysis for so many. From Malacanang to Batanes and down to Tawi-Tawi.
It’s Bato-Dutz Shocker . . . now.
he he
canadadry says
Duterte’s image as a bumbling incoherent president
By publicly charging personalities and on confrontation change his mind betrays a Country president as having misled by his own Intel support. Instead of shaming these personalities, to us abroad,it is the President who us being shamed. One non filipino friend even joked that he won’t be surprised if he names Santa Claus as guilty of fraud for not really giving gifts to children. Du30’s behavior is appearing comical if viewed globally compared to other leaders.
leona says
You might be surprised. . . Mexico might follow. USA Trump might follow. Putin Russia might follow and
other leaders, that only by this way
Kill Kill and Kill . . . at least iLLegal drugs will stop or nearly stop.
But if China follows, China beats ’em all Drugs-hands up ! Killed were killed 45 million without drugs. Another 45 million this time on iLLegal drugs.
iLLegal drugs will stop for awhile.
yvonne says
What ever happened to the big news around last year, or so, that the Mexican drug cartel has taken a foothold in the Philippines, and is now operating in the country with impunity?
I remember that there was even a news about the drug cartel sending assassins to the country to silence some drug dealers who were caught by the police.
I haven’t heard of one Mexican drug dealer getting arrested or killed by the current administration.
Ed Celis says
Duterte ordering the Police to kill suspected criminals is a violation of the constitution. There is no death penalty in the Constitution, therefore Duterte and his Police Death Squad are guilty of genocide. Who will UPHOLD the Constitution if the Supreme Court Justices are silent and not defending it. This new President instead of uniting a country for peace and progress, he incited violence and killings. Only an INSANE leader will incite killings. He said that Abu Sayyaf Terror group are NOT CRIMINALS and comparing himself to Idi Amin, just confirm that the Philippines is now run by a PSYCHOPATH!!! Constitution of the Philippines
ARTICLE III
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of
law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Section 2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any
purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except
upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after examination under
oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and
particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
Section 3. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable
except upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise,
as prescribed by law.
(2) Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be
inadmissible for any purpose in any proceeding.
Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of
the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government
for redress of grievances. …. .
Ka Enchong says
Duterte telling the NPA to try and execute captives who are suspected as involved in the drug trade is nothing short of treason.
Duterte goading citizens to kill neighbors suspected of being drug users/pushers isn’t just a violation of the Constitution. It’s the surest, fastest way to ending the civilization we were born to – surer and faster than climate change ever will.
leona says
There is NOW a death penalty in the Constitution.
It is revived like one FOI by DWD.
DOD [dead on drugs].
Let says
I am with you. Same questions with what you posted. It’s absurd for everyone to just surrender, mind boggling how our cops are so ill-trained they can’t properly detain “druggies” that are always resisting arrest.
It’s propaganda. So much drama on tv instead of just working for the change they keep talking about. No one can solve all crimes in 6 months. It’s an empty promise. Drugs are not the only problem we have. So many other crimes that need to be addressed, which includes plunder.
Juan Macipag says
Yan ang hirap sa walang alam at walang tiwala. Poro speculations mali naman.
Di bali kung ano man po yung mga maling pahayag ay cgurado lalabas at lalabas ang katotohanan.
Sana wag tayo mag bulag bulagan tulad ng nakaraang administration na ang kriminalidad ay laganap at wag nating isipin na wala tayong magagawa.
Hindi kaya na sadyang biglang nagkaroon ng takot at respito ang mga yun dahil sa bagong pangulo?
Ka Enchong says
Sa mga nangyayari ngayon, hindi ba higit na laganap ang kriminalidad? Wala pang isang buwang nakakaupo si Duterte, ilang daan na ang tumimbuwang dahil “adik” o “tulak” daw.
‘Yan ang hirap sa Pinoy, napakahilig sa “Instant”. Instant coffee, instant noodles. Pati ba naman kriminalidad, instant din ang gustong solusyon?
Sana, huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan. Kapag idolo natin ang gumawa, kahit mali, tama pa rin ang tingin natin.
yvonne says
Baka pwede kang maging masipag @Juan Macipag.
Paki-explain naman yung sinasabi mong mga mali para malinawagan kaming mga walang alam. At siguro mas mabuti kung sasagutin mo ang isa, o dalawa, sa mga katanungang nakasaad sa itaas para mas maganda ang talakayan natin.
Salamat sa pagpapaunlak mo sa kaunting kahilingan ko.
Rubjub says
Let them (users & pushers) face the consequences of the intensified war on drugs.
BonaV says
Malayo ang pagkakaiba ng takot sa respeto.
john c. jacinto says
Mas laganap ang kriminalidad ngayon kesa sa nakaraang administrasyon. Ang walang habas na pamamaslang sa mga PINAGHIHINALAANG mga pusher at adik ay malinaw na ebidensya na inutil ang administrasyong Duterte sa paglaban sa droga. Teka pala, asan ba ang mga drug lords? Bakit wala ni isa man na nahuhuli?
Buddy Gomez says
Thank you, Yvonne….I am with you. Let us all work for a common cause: Truth. The common readiness of Pduts’ adherents to believe outlandish claims spawned by the Duterte subrosa cyber / social media army of propagandists need to be stemmed. The law of political gravity will apply. Soon, we all hope. All these “surrender” events are now being exposed as manufactured and orchestrated. Thank you. The bottom of Duterte’s cup, this early, is getting loaded with the weight of unsustainable ‘zarzuela.’
yvonne says
Thanks Buddy for reading.
If Duterte could literally get away with murder I dread to think at what he would be capable of doing next.
What would stop him from issuing an EO declaring all activists, nationalists, progressive workers, COA auditors, minority politicians, journalists, priests, and others who do not toe the government line to be considered ‘enemies of the state’ subject to summary arrests?
Would those people have to ‘surrender’ and make written declarations that they will cease and desist from being ‘enemies of the state’, or else they would be arrested or risk getting shot and killed?