TO WARN Filipinos about the evils of illegal drug abuse in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte compared drug addicts to useless slaves who burden this country of 106 million people.
“What is wretched about this [is they are] actually they are slaves. Even slaves are better, because if you buy them in the African market, you can make them useful. Here, they are slaves eternally to a chemical sponsored by a criminal, his pockets full of money at the expense of the Filipino,” Duterte said.
In the Senate, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros slammed President Duterte for being “racist” when he compared drug addicts to African slaves, saying at least African slaves could be put to work.
She also said this remark of the President belittles the value of human life.
“This is the height of absurdity. The President tries to make light of slavery, which is universally frowned upon and condemned. His remarks were callous, insensitive and uninformed,” Hontiveros said.
“Abuse is abuse. Whether drug addiction or slavery, the lives of the people that are trapped in these circumstances are incomparable. It is wrong to trivialize people’s suffering and judge which situation is ‘better’ than the other,” Hontiveros added.
In the same speech, Duterte named another mayor involved in illegal drugs, Licerio Antiporda, of Region II (Cagayan Valley) in his list.
“(He could be a barangay chairman). Bigtime pusher, member, Antiporda-Prado Drug Group,” Duterte said ,adding 40 percent of the barangay officials in the country were involved in illegal drugs,
A search for Licerio Antiporda showed a mayor of Buguey in Cagayan with that name.
Duterte likewise reprimanded local officials involved in the illegal drug trade, once again showing a stack of paper with the names of the alleged narco-politicians.
Hontiveros said Duterte should stop referring to the ostracism and persecution done to people of different races when talking about the country’s drug users.
“First it was the Holocaust, now it’s slavery. When will this madness stop? I remind the President that drug addiction is a public health concern. Ostracizing drug addicts only make it extra difficult for the government to fully rehabilitate and reintegrate them back into society,” Hontiveros remarked.
“What they need are appropriate health care interventions to manage and stop their addiction. The government should also recognize their right to decent work as a response to the roots of their dependence. The president should stop making it seem like drug dependents are better off sent to gas chambers or slave ships,” Hontiveros said.
