DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 March)—Human rights advocates in Davao City slammed the declaration of Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s war against illegal drugs as it is just a “legalized version of criminality” and will not address the drug menace.
Dr. Jean Lindo, chair of Gabriela Southern Mindanao, told MindaNews that the local government should instead strengthen “peace and justice” as development indicators and let due process take its course as the laws exist.
She said that she does not agree with how the local government is dealing with the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city because as a physician, “drug problem is a health problem.”
Lindo encouraged the local authorities to learn from the practices of other countries like Portugal with successful models on how to deal with the drug problem.
“Maslow’s hammer never works. (To a hammer, everything looks like a nail.) That is what they are doing. The war on drugs was like a legalized version of criminality. The laws exist. Why can’t the due process of law be applied?” she said.
Lindo said that there is no easier way out of the social problems, particularly in the context of the Philippines where most of its people remain in poverty.
She added that the trick of “dehumanizing addicts does not work” because drug addiction is a health problem, which is merely a “reflection of the social, political, cultural and economic system that we have.”
“There is no short cut for social problems, especially in the context that our development governance is dictated by foreign corporations in cahoots with politicians. Poverty is a pushing factor along with other problems,” the physician said.
Lindo added that the death of thousands of suspected drug addicts during the administration of the incumbent mayor’s father, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, was “merely a reflection of state impunity” in the country.
Rauf Sissay, secretariat of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Southern Mindanao Region (BAYAN-SMR), likewise expressed grave concern over the declaration of “war on drugs” in Davao.
He encouraged the local government to see “drug problem as a public health concern rather than a criminal act.”
While the group recognizes the necessity of addressing the drug menace in the community, Sissay added that the issues must be handled in a “humane and comprehensive manner.”
Sissay said that violence is not the solution to address substance abuse.
He said that the public need more access to quality social and health services, sustainable livelihood, regular employment, decent family living wage, and other services that would support the needs of the public.
He added that poverty and hunger are the “major factors” that forces many people to use illegal drugs.
“Government agencies should also exercise prudence in its actions and follow due process,” he added.
Sissay said that the declaration of war on drugs could only worsen the culture of impunity in the country, noting that around 10,000 alleged drug suspects died in the bloody campaign against illegal drugs during the previous Duterte administration.
He said that among those who fell victim to the anti-illegal drug campaign were the poor and innocent people.
Based on the data from DCPO, seven drug suspects died from March 22 to 26 while there were 17 drug suspects arrested in 21 buy-bust operations conducted within the same period. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
