The sissyness of the United States on the issue of human rights violations stems from the fact that President Duterte does not only know Philippine history but is rather candid in saying that nobody has the right to lecture his government on this issue. Understandably, their concern for human rights was heightened by the increased incidence in alleged extrajudicial killings consequent to the relentless campaign against illegal drugs.
To begin with, the US and their hypocritical confederates should refrain from advising foreign governments on the conduct of their domestic policy, more so if it has something to do with the problem of illegal drugs. For President Duterte to backtrack means that he has bowed to the uncanny demand of the opposition. All the drug lords would burst into laughter for this. Put it bluntly, the hypocrites are simply out to discredit the President.
It is high time for us to face the truth. Drug addiction has been identified as the single greatest factor behind the commission of crimes against property—from petty theft to robbery with homicide. It has also been pointed by social workers as the main cause in the breakdown of family ties.
Politics is evident, for it seems the US tends to gloss over the ruinous effects of drugs all for their misguided, or should we say, pretended concern for human rights. It would seem that the yellow hypocrites would prefer to see our society descend to chaos with a sizeable number of our people acting like zombies wildly committing grisly crimes of murder, rape and other forms of sexual perversion.
In poor but graft ridden countries like the Philippines, the most prevalent drug used by people in the lower segment of society is shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride. In 2012, a US State Department cited a UN report that disclosed 2.1 percent of Filipinos aged 16 to 64 were using shabu. Shabu is the drug of choice among 90 percent of local users. In a report by Al Jazeera dated November 20, 2007, “The shackles of shabu,” about 10 percent of the country’s population use this potent drug. Medical findings point out that excessive use of shabu can cause cardiovascular failure and strokes due to high blood pressure, kidney failure, and often led to violent and destructive behavior.
The sale, manufacture and distribution of Illegal drug is as addictive to the cartel syndicates that it has become a multi-billion empire enough to put our officials on their payroll. The United Nations World Drug reported that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted in 2012 9,850 anti-illegal drug operations resulting in the arrest of 8,491 suspects and 9,995 cases filed. About 250 kilos of methamphetamine valued at about P2.92 billion; 4.8 million marijuana plants and seedlings and 818 kilos of marijuana with a total value of P748 million; 17,222 grams of cocaine worth P86 million; and 960 ecstasy tablets valued at P1.15 million were seized. As of 2013, the illegal drug trade in the Philippines amounted to $8.4 billion.
The damage and harm caused by the illegal drugs constitute a greater violation of human rights. Surely, all will agree that both the innocent civilians and those involved in the manufacture, importation, financing, sale and distribution of illegal drugs have rights. But between the rights of those involved and those innocent victims who suffer as a result, certainly the latter have greater rights to protect. This I say because our idea of human rights comes to life only when one is killed, tortured, and deprived of his right to travel. Rather, human rights should be viewed as a preventive, not punitive, measure to prevent the possible occurrence of harm to our people.
One must bear in mind that the principal duty of the state is not only to ensure that human rights are upheld but to see to it that their rights are not violated. While political and legal theoreticians limit themselves to the belief that human rights can only be violated by states, the flaw in that definition becomes evident when the government fails or refuses to act in preventing the spread of the menace.
It would be bad for the state not to act for that would mean condoning, if not encouraging, the proliferation of illegal drugs. The death of those who purposely seek to spread the menace that brings misery to our people cannot be treated as collateral damage to justify the charge of human rights violation.
First, they knew beforehand that to bring in and induce our people to be addicted to the vice of illegal drugs constitutes a criminal act. They are enemies of the state.
Second, illegal drug is an acknowledged problem that needs to be dealt with severely. The UN recognizes the problem that it has created special agencies. China had its sad experience when the British made opium as their main export that led to war until Hong Kong was ceded. In Afghanistan, Mexico and Colombia, drug cartel syndicates have become formidable that they are able to corrupt and blackmail public officials, and even carry out assassinations with impunity on police informers.
As President Duterte noted, our policemen are at a disadvantage. Many drug lords have their battery of lawyers and have deep connections with corrupt judges that go all the way to the Department of Justice such that many of them are acquitted, or are able to escape with the connivance of rouge cops. Those who are in jail continue to live like big bosses operating their empire by remote control.
For the US and its local minions, the hypocritical oligarchy and the pusillanimous bishops, to simplify the issue to one of human rights violation is to ignore that it operates on a different parameter. Atrocities committed by the contending forces in countries undergoing civil war is either rooted in ideology, political, religious or racial differences, and can rightly be accused of human rights violations. In the case of war against illegal drugs, it is one waged in the name of humanity. Every state has the right to declare war against illegal drugs because in the eyes of the international community, those involved commit a crime against humanity or in Latin, hostes humani generis, that anywhere they go they can be punished.
Besides, human rights violation refers to an act committed by the State and by rebel forces as de facto government. However, those who are engaged in the production, importation, manufacture, financing, and distribution of illegal drugs, and armed groups protecting and resisting arrest cannot avail themselves of this right. They only have the rights accorded to a criminal accused under police custody.
It would be paradoxical for the UN to tackle the issue of extrajudicial killings in countries battling the problem of illegal drugs while at the same time encouraging them to do something to curb the menace. In fact, the decision of President Duterte to declare war on illegal drugs is also meant to prevent other countries from interfering in our domestic affairs using it as their alibi to arbitrarily secure the arrest or to assassinate local suspects. This was shown when our police officers received orders from the US Drug Enforcement Agency to shoot two army officers in an alleged buy-bust operation in Magallanes Village.
This explains why President Duterte was infuriated when Senator Leila de Lima sought the assistance of the UN to send in rapporteurs to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings here in the hope of indicting the government where she stands as a senator. Her conduct was irresponsible and reckless.