More people are coming out to criticize the institutionalization of extra-judicial killings in the context of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines led some 20,000 Roman Catholics in a protest rally. The war on drugs has left more than 7,000 people dead since Mr. Duterte assumed office.
In the rally called “Walk for Life,” the Catholic leaders called for non-violence. The promotion of violence, they say, only encourages more violence.
The Duterte administration may dismiss this rally as nothing more than an expression of the sentiments of a minority in social media. But we should not forget that eight out of 10 Filipinos are Roman Catholics.
The problem though is that the Catholic Church no longer has a Jaime Cardinal Sin, who never hesitated to do what he thought was best for the country. We should not forget that the participation of the Church led to the downfall of two presidencies—that of Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada.
And then there is former President Fidel Ramos, the man who convinced former Davao City Mayor Duterte to run for president.
But Ramos, a few months into the Duterte presidency, called the country a sinking ship under the former Davao City mayor. And now he has other issues against the man whom he encouraged to seek the highest post in the land.
I am sure President Duterte knows what his mentor is talking about. He should listen, instead of lashing out at him as he always does at his critics, whom he calls “sons of whores.”
Getting the armed forces involved in the war against drugs will worsen the culture of impunity. The military has a different mandate from “serving and protecting the people” —that is the Police’s responsibility.
I also notice that there are more opinion writers criticizing the President’s methods.
Those in power do not have the monopoly of good intentions and patriotism. I repeat —the President must listen, because democracy is about assent and dissent!
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The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo is trying all tricks in the book to delay the resolution of the election protest of former Senator Bongbong Marcos against her. She has appealed the decision of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal finding Marcos’ petition valid in form and substance.
I am, myself, a lawyer. I know that when respondents appeals for reconsideration, it is just a ploy to delay the process.
We all know what the Liberal Party and the “Yellowtards” tried to do during the counting of votes. They tried to make Roxas win but Duterte’s lead was so overwhelming that the task proved impossible. Since Marcos’ margin over Robredo was so much slimmer, things “happened” in that particular race.
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I have earlier refrained from commenting on whether former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima deserves what she has been getting from President Duterte and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. I am convinced that this is vindictiveness that the Liberal Party is getting. It is also a violation of human rights since she is getting tried by publicity.
I cannot say with certainty that De Lima is guilty as charged. Only the courts of law can determine that. But my gulay, what she is getting from the Duterte administration is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.
Since the issue is now in court, she would have her day to contest these charges. For me a person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Indeed there has been miscarriage of justice in many political cases. Still, I believe in the majesty of the law.
I don’t know how long the case against de Lima would last, but knowing our lawyers and judges, we may not even see their finality until after the end of President Duterte’s term in 2022.
The only consolation De Lima can get is that she would certainly have her day in court.
The way I see it, everything being experienced by De Lima these days is politically motivated. She is a staunch opponent and critic of the President.