Is Duterte accelerating the entire situation?
Notes on the recent events surrounding the Duterte administration
(and how people deal with this matter)
It seems that the tough-taking, popularly-elected Filipino president invoked too much about the idea of an authoritarian rule, that ever since he entered Malacanang, he wanted to make his anti-drug campaign, no matter how bloody it goes, become nationwide in scale.
That based on reports, More than 7,000 people were killed in the “war on drugs” in the first six months after he took office; and according to interior police statistics, many of them innocent bystanders or children earning money as low-level drug runners.
That report prevailed over those of system-sponsored programs that rather benefited interests of the few. It is even intensified with the booting out of few but really concerned members of the cabinet like Gina Lopez for the Environment and Natural Resources, followed by Social Welfare and Developement Secretary Taguiwalo. Others, like Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, is awaiting either for confirmation or like his fellow colleague- be rejected and replaced either by Duterte's closest ally, or a retired general that makes the administration itself an "auto-coup".
Such settings makes one would think that alongside the killings, is the booting out of those who truly adhere yet aware of the situation, what more of having threats that surrounds the country as a whole- be it from Maute, China, or from the system itself.
And that matter is intensified by the recent event, such as an execution-style killing of a 17-year old boy who was falsely accused of being a drug-runner, that was turned out to be innocent one according to a CCTV camera video.
And like all others, quite controversial as any other incident under the present administration; also like any other incident, it had to be "planted" with an evidence "enough" to justify an act. But the CCTV camera tells otherwise that Kian was "executed" and "planted" with an evidence afterwards. Many commentators in social media question the incident that in turn question the entire drug war itself; however, fanatics rather continue accusing the dead simply for being a drug-runner, if not subjectively telling that "he was outside" and being outside meant subjected to the order of battle!
Strange to hear those reports, comments, and countercomments that turned social media into a venue for mudslinging, saber-rattling, even threat provoking. And to think that with those public “drug watch lists,” are rather prepared by local officials on the basis of hearsay, rumors, and even personal grudges. And all in spite of clamours for justice, the actually-existing reality that surrounds everyone be like seeing apologists urging people to "move on", "disregard", and leaving the matter to the authorities, or worse, bluntly telling that:
"Since he/she is of no use anymore, there is no gain if he/she lives and no loss if he dies"...
Or worse, justifying the entire killing spree, no matter there is a collateral damage, as necessary-a lesser evil.
These reactions somehow reflected the administration's less interest in dealing with the problems surrounding mistaken identities and innocents affected by every police operation. Subjectively, most victims are poor and hence susceptible to crime and hence, punishment; even Human Rights enforcers, paralegals alike are even threatened simply because of disturbing that brand of justice the administration trying to impose.
Strange but to a country that adheres to statements like "Rule of Law" and "Liberty and Justice for All" the fanatic rather banners it; and since they are fond of a Republic of Virtue that is to be watered with blood, they have voted a strongman, and glorify the entire killing spree out of that "virtue", as if willing to sacrifice almost half of the population than keeping the nation in a state of mess. They interpret every killing as if a "catharsis", justifying it by comparing that collateral damage and those of increasing crime rates.
Anyways, that reality be like trying to be beyond good and evil as long as it is virtuous in the eyes of the system and its fanatics. They have sidelined the concerned ones from the cabinet, threatened the countryside with bombings, continuing unjust policies, what else? Is this the change the present administration afforded to proclaim?
Or will the people, in seeing these bullshits, is willing to take back their future against those who assume as such?