Position Paper: Submitted By: Diana Gayle Corral Ruzzel Kim Ting Jordan Warren Bartolome

POSITION
PAPER
Submitted by:
Diana Gayle Corral
Ruzzel Kim Ting
Jordan Warren Bartolome
Submitted to:
Mr. Jose Mari Del Rosario
War On Drugs
Drugs has been a big problem of the Philippines. This causes many of the crimes happening in the country. So after a
victory in June 2016, the newly elected Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte immediately fulfilled a campaign promise
and instigate a so called “War on Drugs”. He publicly approved the arrest and killing of suspected drug users and
pushers, but the police’s action has no repercussions. According to the International Human Rights Organizations, 3,906
suspected drug users and pushers died at the hands of the police from 1st of July 2016 to 26th of September 2017 while
unidentified gunmen have killed thousands more, bringing the total death poll to 12,000. In his first State of the Nation
Address, President Rodrigo Duterte said that, based on data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA),
there were about “3 million drug addicts” in the country “two or 3 years ago,” and possibly 3.7 million now.
There are two ways of how this war on drug works. First is the extrajudicial killing where government officers are
politically motivated to kill and punished people who disobey the law. Fatou Bensouda, the International Criminal Court
prosecutor, announced there would be a preliminary examination on extrajudicial killings in the context of police anti-
drug operations. This is an important step forward for the many victims, advocates and international supporters who
argue that large-scale abuses have been committed with complete impunity, and who also believe justice is not possible
within the country when the highest levels of government have promised to protect the police. But there are three
challenges to a successful investigation: the credibility of the court, procedural challenges and expectations. The second,
is the vigilante killings where a person who is not a government officer punish criminals. Masked gunmen taking part in
killings appeared to be working closely with police, casting doubt on government claims that most killings have been
committed by vigilantes or rival drug gangs. Many evidences of news has been published and reported about this
manner. This is why people in the Philippines are scared because they might be the next one to die and accused to be a
user or a pusher. The Duterte’s administration’s “war on drugs” continued in 2018 and expanded into areas outside the
capital. This project of the president discusses a few advantages, one of those is it fears people to use drugs and they will
automatically stop using it. Some also says that one of the advantage of this is it lessen petty crimes, which people
attribute to those addicted to illegal drugs. But funny that most of the criminals in the country are not drug addicts or
drug dependents because they are mostly the one’s seated in the government. On the other hand, the president’s drug on
war hasdisadvantages not only in the country but also the people living in the country. It is promoting a culture of
impunity that if goes on unchecked can and will be abused by those who have sinister goals. The method being used is
not sustainable as it seems only after small rats when the hives are rarely targeted and the ‘lords’ are out and about
enriching themselves. The supply keeps coming and doesn’t look like the war is preventing it. Funnily, most war tactics
tend to cut off the supply lines of the enemy, why does this current drug war rarely exhibit that effort? If the source
doesn’t stop then you can expect it would find it’s way to the populace. In addition, President Duterte vowed to continue
his anti-drug campaign until his term ends in 2022. In July 2018, he again pledged to continue the “war on drugs,” saying
“it will be as relentless and chilling as on the day it began.” Based on the evidences that we read and watched on the
television war on drugs was just used as a platform to propel the ruling party to hold power in the country and be the one
who’s going to help the Philippines get up from poorness. It’s a step in the right direction, but the plans and execution
seem too lacking that it wouldn’t solve the main issue anytime soon. But to be honest, this a part of his social policy
which has been the most successful in any of the President's war on drugs in any parts of the world. A million of drug
user surrenders and 14.23 billion of drug confiscated within just six months makes it popular. His strong political will is
indestructible that it even lowered the overall crime rates within just a short period of time. Although amazing at it may
seem, the drug-related unknown deaths has been consistent which is also being used by his critics to accuse him of
ordering killings despite the lack of hard evidence to prove. Most of his effective policies revolve around the local
governance level. Illegal drug war is mostly effective on the local levels eliminating the small time pushers and
minimizing the users. Crime rate improvement. Speeding up of small bureaus processes. All these are areas where the
local government can take over. Pro-Duterte or not everyone should wished him to succeed. Because if he succeed we
succeed also. It’s a mixed bag, like all things in life are. The real evil is seeing the other side is absolutely wrong in all
matters forever.
In conclusion, war on drugs is significant in a way that diminish and lessen the drug abuse. It help to discipline the
people regarding the abused of drugs and help to lessen the crimes happening in the country. War on drugs is beneficial
yet it is harmful to some. There are foul plays and dirty acts that violates human rights. For the government to improve
the war on drugs and to be more effective, they should keep an eye on it. They should a lot more time to investigate and
do a background check to every suspect.

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do a background check to every suspect.

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