Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Thank you, Richard Branson, for caring about the extra-judicial killings in the Philippines

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By Raïssa Robles

Business magnate Richard Branson’s post on “Duterte’s war on drugs is not the answer” was a most unexpected post from an extraordinary man.

Branson began his blog post by saying,

“It’s not easy to suppress frustration and anger reading news from the Philippines these days. When President Rodrigo Duterte took office on June 30th, he vowed to double down on the country’s war on drugs – and double down he did.

Duterte openly called on police and others to kill anyone involved in the drug trade, from drug traffickers and dealers to people who use drugs. This unprecedented and brutal call for people to take matters into their own hands has had devastating and shocking consequences.”

What is this Englishman doing, meddling in our internal affairs?

It turns out that Branson has “friends” in the Philippines who have told him some things we did not even know about Duterte’s drug war:

“Friends familiar with the situation on the ground tell me that watch lists of alleged suspects are circulating, including club or bar owners that are now being considered “drug pushers”, as are politicians representing areas of high drug use. These lists have fuelled the ambitions of trigger-happy gunmen to do as they please. And more people are being killed because the actual drug lords are fighting back and killing people who they think would be whistleblowers. It’s a situation that has spun completely out of control.”

He puts the blame squarely on Duterte. He says f the President:

“But there is no question that his statements led to these atrocities. To me, and many others, these are clear and unacceptable violations of international human rights standards the Philippines signed to uphold.”

He also points out that the number and manner of killings could turn out to be crimes against humanity:

“Given how systematic and widespread these extrajudicial killings are, I wonder how long it will be until someone points out that what has been unfolding are actual crimes against humanity.”

Branson predicts total failure in Duterte’s war on drugs. He explains why:

“All told, President Duterte’s campaign pledge to end crime within three to six months is bound to fail, especially when it comes to drugs. Illegal drugs are a renewable resource. The drug trade is a global trade controlled by criminal organisations who will always find a way to enter the market. Tough law enforcement and zero tolerance will do nothing to reduce supply or demand of illegal drugs in the grand scheme of things. It’s been a bitter lesson for dozens of countries, from the US to Latin America.”

But still, why is Branson concerned with what is happening in a country that is on the other side of the globe? Shouldn’t he just concern himself with #Brexit which would affect his airline Virgin Atlantic and not meddle in affairs he has no business meddling with?

Branson explains why he has taken a moment to call world attention to the rapid spike in extra-judicial killings in the Philippines which Duterte’s words have encouraged:

“As a member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, I fully support their appeal to President Duterte to:

  • Immediately end the incitements to kill people suspected of using or dealing drugs
  • Act to fulfil international human rights obligations, such as the rights to life, health, due process and a fair trial, as set out in the human rights treaties ratified by the Philippines
  • Promote evidence-based, voluntary treatment and harm reduction services for people who use drugs instead of compulsory rehabilitation in military camps
  • Not to reinstate the death penalty for drug offences”

You can read Branson’s entire post by clicking here.

The Global Commission on Drug Policy has 25 members from around the globe, including former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and Asma Jahangir a human rights activist from Pakistan and a former UN Special Rapporteur on Arbitrary, Extrajudicial and Summary Executions,Pakistan.

Branson’s post has shattered the silence of the most conservative sector of society – the businessmen.

The killings have given the Duterte government much negative publicity worldwide. I myself have received some queries from abroad whether it is safe to do business in the Philippines under the circumstances.

The sector that bears close watching since it will probably be hit first is tourism.

It’s not a pleasant sight for vacationers to go to a country where the newspaper’s front pages are filled with photos of dead bodies lying in the streets of its capital.

Comments

  1. Thanks so much sir. Knowing that someone empathizes with us is a relief. It is disappointing sometimes when you hear other Filipinos knwon for compassion and love for God enjoy seeing other people die in the street and call them criminals, even those babies and ladies who were at the wrong place. God is good and he loves our country so mich and will soon put an end on all these. The supporters are slowly learning their lessons being victims of their own support to ejk. Help us to,continue praying. God bless you sir.

  2. Most of you do nothing but complain. Why not sponsor a drug addict or pusher out of the Philippines where you live – that way it will be safer for them and also make the Philippines much safer!

  3. i agree on the war vs illegal drugs.
    can this war be directed to the manufacturers or the smugglers of illegal drugs?
    no drugs, no users and no pushers.

  4. You guys kidding right? Do you even know what Branson is all about ? hey Branson you tell Duterte to stop but yet you tell Chicago businessmen to smoke pot with their kids? http://www.chicagotribune.com/… . i suggest you stay out of the Philippines or you might just make it to the Drug User list & end up in the “purgatory” like jails, billionaire that you are won’t get you any special treatment. That is how fair Duterte is!

      • @bernard
        In the spirit of transparency and FAIR play, and as Duterte said, walang exemption, walang sasantohin,
        How about Duterte/his family and his friends undergo drug testing in public by a credible authority. Prove that he and none of his family and relatives do not and did not ever use any illegal drugs.

        If we follow some pattern in which they seem to profile the drug users that they killed, Duterte and his son Baste (with lip ring and tattoo) easily fit the category. If tables were turned and Hindi siya presidente, Baste and Duterte could have already suffered cardboard justice a long time ago.

        Not saying they should be killed, just saying he should be fair and there must be due process. His shopping list is absolutely Stuuupid.

        BTW, given that his published LIST is highly flawed/inaccurate (including one who has been dead 8 years ago) what consequence do those people who put the list together get? There must be accountability and consequence shared all around, including Duterte. He does not only have egg on his face. He got blood on it.

    • @ Bernard….

      Do some research please…

      ”Compared to other substances, marijuana is not very addicting. It is estimated that 32% of tobacco users will become addicted, 23% of heroin users, 17% of cocaine users, and 15% of alcohol users. Cocaine and heroin are more physically harmful and nicotine is much more addictive. It is much harder to quit smoking cigarettes than it is to quit smoking pot.”

      https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-teenage-mind/201012/is-marijuana-addictive

  5. Extrajudicial killings are those authorized by the government outside of due process. The “extrajudicial” killings the leftist media insists on are because of vigilantes, co-drug fellows, and rogue police/military involved in drugs. They know their days are numbered so they target those who have come clean. Even a 12 year old would understand this reality. So please, if you are anti-Duterte, maybe you can report on something substantial. Duterte said “to kill” in ways defined by law and the constitution. Civil arrest under lawful means is lawful. We hope that people like you will stop sensationalizing stories. More than half a million junkies and drug personalities have surrendered. How much is 400? Please do the math.

      • Until him or one of his family members is the 401st, he’ll keep believing this presidents “BS”.

    • EJK is plainly murder because it is outside of due process of law.

      It is getting out of control. The end does not justify the means. Coming soon is to include ‘other crimes.’

      Innocent lives will be sacrificed with a simple remark by PNP ‘Lumaban siya ! ‘

      Or a placard ‘Wag tularan. Pusher Ako.’ by vigilantes. Simple remarks.

      There are about 120,000 PNP personnel. If 1,000 cops each makes EJK for every 15 days that’s a lot of deaths. Since it looks it’s non-stop now, it will increase in the days ahead.

      Internationally, PHILIPPINES will be at a dead end. Tourism is to be watched. Businesses too.

      Locally, the gas will be increased on the burners to continue the heat. It’s boiling up.

      The MISSION is accomplishing its goal. How will it be explained? Answer: Just doing our job by following the order.

      Will there be a court trial on this later? Baka/maybe. Nuremberge trials of following orders.

      tsk tsk

    • the potential to be the biggest criminal of all is nobody else but the govt. very very dangerous to allow the govt to abuse, to go beyond what the constitution and the laws allow, its power for no one will be there to stop them.

      • But where is the outrage? It seems like everyone is enjoying the spectacle of seeing dead people on the daily news. Duwag na ba lahat ang mga Pilipino dahil sa kapapanood kay Yaya Dab?

    • Thank you somuch for caring us Filipino people Mr. Branson, its not easy for us as advocates, thank you somuch!

  6. KILL! KILL! KILL!

    THE HALLMARK OF DUTERTE’S ADMINISTRATION

    There are many things that are very wrong with Pres. Duterte’s administration.

    Take for example his war against illegal drugs and the recently reported ‘surrender’ of Albuerta Mayor Ronaldo Espinosa Sr., an alleged major drug trafficker in the Visayas, to PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa. Espinosa Sr. ‘surrendered’ because of a reported shot-to-kill order against him and his son Kerwin issued by no less than Pres. Duterte.

    Following his surrender, Espinosa Sr. was, and still is (as of this posting) being housed, at the PNP White House. Chief Dela Rosa explained that Mayor Espinosa Sr. cannot be detained in jail because there is no charges filed, and there is no warrant of arrest, against him.

    Really? No charges and no warrant of arrest but there is a shoot-to-kill order against the mayor!

    To top it all, being housed also at the PNP White House, are the mayor’s wife and some relatives “to protect them from death threats”, explained Chief Dela Rosa. Death threats coming from whom? Isn’t the only death threat is the one coming from Duterte and Dela Rosa that the mayor will be killed if he did not surrender?

    It seems that killing, and more killings, is the hallmark of this administration. The kill orders are coming from Duterte and are echoed by his PNP Chief Dela Rosa.

    Consider these:

    Getting the cue from Duterte, Customs Chief Nicanor Faeldon, a former Marine Captain, expressed his willingness to kill corrupt customs employees.

    And just a couple of days ago Duterte was reported to be looking for a ‘killer’ as new PCSO chief. Current PCSO Chief Ireneo Maliksi, obviously wanting to be in good grace with Duterte to keep his job, announced that he is ready to kill (patumbahin) PCSO officials who are milking the agency (ginagawang gatasan ang ahensya).

    Kill! Kill! Kill!

    • @Yvonne, I respectfully disagree with you on one item.

      I don’t really think that the Espinosa family received special treatment being accommodated at the White House. Bato being a kind and gracious host is absolute hogwash! It was only a public/media spin to project his image as the good guy. This Fabian Ver reincarnate and future elected politician is a sly personality extraordinaire. But, it boomeranged on him, big time. The kid did not surrender and now, Bato is being accused of doing selective special treatment for the rich and influential.

      I strongly believe that the members of the family were held hostage. It was a psych war strategy for the Espinosa kid to come out. As well, it will be easier to keep an eye on them or track any communication attempt that the kid might do. It could have been a double whammy win-win for Bato: projected himself as a good guy and the Espinosa son could have surrendered. Unfortunately, it did not work.

      The family cannot be put in jail because there were no specific charges against them. So, they have to be “accommodated” at the White House.

      Why is he “kicking them out of the White House”? – not because they were smoking. It was because without any charges filed against them, Bato can be charged with illegal/forcible detention or kidnapping which is ordinarily punishable with life imprisonment.

      I must admit that smoking out the White House is a brilliant strategy to torture Bato back. It would have been great if the same concern Bato has a father to his children not to have asthma attack is the same empathetic concern he extends to other kids that he and his team pile up in prison or in body bags.

      • He is sooo showbiz. Bald like Verdugo. Hmmm something in common? He is PDutz protege way back in Davao so it is not surprising if he is a sly personality extraordinaire.

    • I’m no longer sure if the people around the world still hold the Philippines in affection as they certainly did when the July 12 Arbitration decision came out. For one brief shining moment, the Philippines had the admiration of the world as the David who was courageous and smart. But Duterte’s foul mouth and his Kill! Kill! Kill! has unfortunately brought disrepute to our nation and negated whatever gain we made.

      I support his anti-mining push and admire his resoluteness, but when I read this other news, I feel despair again:

      http://www.rappler.com/nation/142109-duterte-us-ambassador-goldberg-buwisit

  8. Oligarchs are next… Example is Ongpin who dips his hands in the government purse! Also Tan, who gave monetary incentives to Duterte as announced by Duterte in media. Tan’s eyes and ears are now imbedded in the Duterte cabinet. Former PAL employees including his children. Duterte should know it is not wise to deal with the devil!!!!

  9. The Philippines has “gone to the other side” of the value line, joining China and North Korea and other totalitarian regimes that make up their own rules and then justify them. They would likely brand Branson as arrogant for wanting to impose western values on nations that have their own ways.

    A reader on my blog opined that most Filipinos don’t want to be led in a democratic way, they want to be ruled.

    It for sure is hard to say that opinion is wrong.

    Human rights and ruler rights are not the same thing.

    • Bongbong’s right to bury his despot dad on sept 18 per today”s Philstar news was to Duterte a more important right than the human rights of the salvaged poor “druggies” and young scholars.

      Where are the brave men of this Republic, si delima lang ba ang may bayag sa Senate?

        • Okay lang po sa akin na ilibing si Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani pero sa isang condition. Na papalitan natin ang pangalan nito ng “Libingan ng mga Bayani at ng Isang Dictador”.

        • Kapag tunay nga na malibing si Makoy sa LNMB, dapat palitan na ng pangalan ang libingan…Libingan ng mga TUNAY at isang HINDI TUNAY na Bayani.

    • At this point I feel like we are like the passengers in the doomed MH 370 flight and our plane has just begun to stray from its path. Many people are rejoicing that we have taken a short cut to our destination but some are worried that we can not do that for there is no short cut.

      In order to avert the exact same fate of MH370 however I believe we must do something now and that is to rally around “Matuwid na Daan” and find a new leader for it.

  10. Per Wiki: “Crimes against humanity are certain acts that are deliberately committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population or an identifiable part of a population.”

    Only President Duterte can stop the killings. He should be careful as the likes of Richard Branson has powerful friends. When this guy talks, they listen.

    • he should have been impeached by now.

      all law breaking presidents should have been removed to prevent problems like this.

      • Nilaro nya yung lawmakers sa federalism and extrajudicial killings how can they even think of going agaibst him now except for de lima. Robredo should quit now her government post given by duterte in sympathy to the many families currently grieving otherwise there won’t be anymore “laylayan ng lipunan dahil napatay na…

  11. In the world of a Duterte fan, following their logic, Branson is a criminal for taking the side of the criminals. LOL.

  12. I agree with Richard Branson when he said that illegal drugs are a renewable resource. Producers can always manufacture these drugs every time they want. There can be a short of supply for a time but when the situation is favorable again for the business, we will see the abundance of these drugs again in every corner of our society. I am in favor on Duterte’s war on illegal drugs and I think everybody will agree. But what I don’t agree with is on how Duterte is doing it. I thought we Filipinos want to preserve human life as possible as it can be, but what we are observing on this fight on illegal drugs, it seems we are losing such Filipino value. The fact that not so many have the courage to stop the everyday killings in the whole country, is an indication that we are losing such value on human life.

    • For sure, tourism will suffer. I, myself, is having reservation to go on vacation in the Philippines. I don’t feel safe.

      • Me too. I’d probably delay it and see if things will slow down. My friends asked me about the situation and I told them the truth. So, they are on hold for now and would probably go to Thailand & Vietnam instead of the Philippines.

      • I can’t be confident to go home either. Mind you, home is not the right word right now to describe the country.
        If you left your home and you long to go back, would you go back to a more chaotic home environment than before? This is not the country and govt I am excited to see after making a decent life out of the PH, the smell of blood is nauseating.

        We who felt very uneasy about this, don’t matter, the 18 million PDUTTARDS do,,,. those alone could make a choir to HADES and sing HALLELUJAH.

        The Filipino psyche is at a continual state of stupefaction, they can’t decide if this is pleasing or abhorring and it is not natural to be gleeful of so many deaths caused by the PH POLICE as per ordered by the sitting president and the lawmakers are passive.
        It is a terrible situation in the country. I have a feeling the country will be reaping a horrible end of this devil may care killings.

        This phenomenon is culling the unwanted because they are a waste of their time to be heard and be fed and to be cured/rehabilitated. The prison itself is getting crowded and the govt might as well move ahead of the FEDERALISM AND make an Asian FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY as a guinea pig of sort for unruly citizens for the purpose of prolonged detention,,,,, sigh , shake and roll .

        What is interesting is THE PRESIDENT is now able to make a mark in the globe map and make the country famous just for one promise of change, that is the killing of criminals in a matter of 2 months, indeed, how many stars of admiration for that? If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands , stomp your feet,,,,

        I truly feel an ache inside my stomach and a heavy wrecking ball inside my chest….. while others are cheering.

        • The new PolPot

          The real emergency in the Philipines is the presence of Duterte. How Philippines is governed today is how a psychopath does it. Sabi nya sa latest news konti palang yung 1000.

          I can understand my friends’ plans to abandon business plans on Philippines, I hope Tim Hortons and Ikea will take note. There’s a new PolPot on the rise in the Philippines.

        • I was there the whole month of July for vacation with my entire family, all I can hear was good feedback from rich and ordinary citizen. In fact I was just listening while commuting public transportation in Visayas, that people are afraid and think twice before doing crime. You can hear from taxi drivers that they’re happy of what’s going on, criminals ‘re hiding.

        • Yes they feel comportable with all the killings, rapes, robberry, massacre, holdaps caused by drug abusers its normal u know. Its bot normal to read in the news daily with all the headlines are addicts being killed. Its not really safe to go back to Philippines when u r an addict.

      • Same here. If it’s not important to go back home we would be avoiding the Philippines right now or for the years to come. Investing our hard earned money somewhere else.

      • My family would like to spend Christmas with my in-laws but now thinking otherwise. Even my colleagues here in Singapore are asking what’s happening to the Philippines, and they are now going elsewhere safer instead of their initial plan on going there.

        After 6 months of killing spree, what’s next? I think PDuts is just using the war on drugs but instead he is using this to instill fear to the people until it really sprawls out of control. That will be his opportunity to declare martial law and bang! We’re back to the dark days 😔

        • My dear, why invest somewhere? California is my primary residence, for the 1st time I brought my family for the whole month of July in the Philippines. We had a blast, vacation was fun and my husband first vacation since 1985! We went from throughout Manila, to Baguio, to Cebu, mostly island hopping. I’m telling you it’s worth the travel/ time. Why listen too much to all this trash news! Ask ur relatives. I even go out and ride public transportations such jeepney, bus and taxi, most of the remarks was positive. Except of course for the traffic. But I spent most of my time in the province. Not in the city. We can’t wait to go back.❤️

  15. If only our Philippine oligarchs were of the same calibre and had the same principles as Richard Branson.
    Why are the oligarchs not standing up for what is right, because they are afraid and why are they afraid? Corruption.
    For sure the situation is going to get worse before it gets better.

    • They are afraid to speak out because they are the next target of Digong which I doubt if he will ever touch them. Sila-sila rin sumuporta kay Digong noong eleksyon kaya malabo yan at hindi niya kaya ang malalaking tao sa bansa. The tourism industry will be affected and the economy will suffer especially with Mr. Branson taking a stand about the drug war. Salamat at merong kagaya niya na nagmamalasakit sa bansa.