What else is there?
The question is, how does one value humanity? It starts within oneself then it is shared and reflected to others. If you, yourself, don’t value life by engaging in drugs, allowing yourself to be destroyed will destroy the lives of others. How should a country’s leader solve the root cause of a humanitarian crisis?
We are all aware of how huge the problems are, worldwide, in terms of crime and poverty that were brought about by drugs and illegal substances. It doesn’t just ruin the life of the users, drug pushers and criminals. More so, it destroys the lives of the innocent victims who were robbed, killed or raped because of drugs. The Philippines has tried a less stringent approach on dealing with drugs and look at what happened. Illegal drugs were offered to people, regardless of age and so-called social class. The poor became poorer. Corrupt government officials became more corrupt. Government agencies tasked to safeguard the welfare of the public either engaged in the drug trade or in drug abuse. Innocent people were killed by those under the influence of drugs. Drug addicts killed without fear, saying that they didn’t know what they did because they were under the influence of drugs. If you think that the Philippines government’s strong fight against drugs is not acceptable, what can you suggest?
From Ms Maryl Ng
UAE
Careful what you hear
Rodrigo Duterte is the president that the Philippines badly needs at this moment. He is in the process of cleaning up a very filthy system of government. Everyone needs to do proper research into this issue and never believe what the Philippines’ mainstream media is saying. There is too much corruption and bribery happening.
From Mr Chris Llaguno
UAE
Can’t discredit media
Mr Chris Llaguno, in what other way can we know about the president’s performance besides the media? We are duty-bound to support our president, but likewise, it is also our duty to see the government’s mistakes and say so. Right or wrong?
The Philippines’ government has simply failed to provide well for every family. Even if they kill all the criminals, society will keep producing criminals at the same rate they are killed.
Ms Maryl Ng, apparently, you think it is right to defend and hide a president’s mistakes no matter what. I liked former Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos for his brilliant diplomacy, but I disliked him for his plundering. Now, I like Duterte for his scare tactics, but I dislike his foul language and penchant for insults. I’m just like anyone else, with positive and negative forces in me that recognise right and wrong. I feel anybody who sees nothing wrong with what a president says or does is blind, a loyalist or a liar!
From Mr Nestor Vidal
UAE
A strong leader
We badly needed a man like Duterte to rule the Philippines because he has what we need in a president. He has the courage and determination to solve all the problems we now have in our country. Above all, he is a strong leader.
From Mr Solomon Java
UAE
Sometimes needed
Sometimes, we need a leader like him, to develop a country and eradicate narcotics.
From Mr Vijay Kumar
UAE
Nothing to debate
Love him, hate him or fear him. Duterte will get things done. Debates on this subject are useless. Sixteen million Filipinos have already spoken and that is why Duterte won.
From Ms Marieta Tubio Tubog
UAE
Not done in civil society
His ‘policy’ of shooting drug dealers is a big moral hazard. I’m sure some police officers already have collected money to eliminate rivals from other drug dealers, and have gained new employees from those rivals. Draconian drug laws may work in city states like Singapore, but an archipelago such as the islands of the Philippines, and the character of their people will make this policy a flash in the pan failure. Does Duterte really believe the surviving relatives of the 2,500 (and counting) will not be screaming for vengeance? These people were killed as if it was a business deal, rather than the formal process of making an arrest, trying the culprit, convicting and then punishing him, as is done in any civil society.
From Mr David Obadiah Farrell
UAE
A necessary conversation
It’s an interesting and globally significant topic right now. People need to calm down and stop getting defensive about this subject. I think Duterte may not have the political tact that is required of a politician to make sure he stays in office long, but he has what it takes to change his country for the better.
Right now, the Philippines needs a kind of leader who is focused on his country instead of playing political games with the world. I just hope that his quick methods don’t earn him an assassination anytime soon. Because of how quickly he is getting things done, his adversaries may take drastic measures against him and try to get rid of him.
From Mr Morvarid Jalali
Sharjah
Drastic, but crucial
This is a crucial issue because no government, till now, has taken such a drastic step against the drug problem in the Philippines. My concern is that innocent people must not be harmed. Drug lords, smugglers and dealers who are the root cause, must be caught, jailed and eliminated. The drug business is making people rich with black money and taking the lives of thousands. Readers who are interested can read the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) data graph, which shows how many countries are suffering from drug problems. The use of banned or life threatening drugs is the silent killer of the masses. This issue needs to stop, with crucial steps taken in many other countries, too.
From Ms Syeda Ahmad
UAE
Taking down crime
We need a president like Duterte to lessen all the heinous crimes in the Philippines, especially, the illegal drug related ones.
From Mr Gleane Jaspe Jalme
UAE
More actions and less words
The Filipino people are looking for a change and are now looking forward to Duterte making changes, with more actions and fewer words. Illegal drugs and corruption are like a worm that’s eating our country, the Philippines.
From Mr Zyzach Mendoza
UAE
Good luck
There is no right or wrong way to deal with the drug problem. Thailand adopted this action against drug users, producers and suppliers during the Thaksin Shinawatra government. It worked, but we couldn’t eradicate it all. The Philippines should try. Good luck to them.
From Mr Wirat Srida
UAE
Why violence?
The world seems to be losing out on humanity. On the one hand, we debate on providing humanitarian aid to the refugees of the Syrian civil war and, on the other hand, leaders take up the role of criminals to discipline the people. Is that the only way to discipline the people? Has the theory of non-violence vanished? Or is it that the world has no patience when facing such issues?
Whatever be the matter, the Philippines is certainly on a bad note, as this has crossed way beyond the limits of a disciplinary movement, and has become mass killing.
Drugs are a serious issue to combat, especially in the 21st century, but the method opted by Duterte is not a plausible solution.
From Ms Parvathi Sreeraj
Dubai
Justice is served
Ms Paravathi Sreeraj, did you know that before Duterte, there were daily murders, theft and rape cases on the news? Did you know that before he came, criminal cases were delayed and extortion in the government was so severe? Justice was provided for the wealthy only. I think there are many things people didn’t know before Duterte came into power.
From Ms Em Evarle
UAE
He has no control
I just see it as sad that a leader who represents the people of the Philippines, says all these terrible things to other leaders and people around the world. Why can’t Duterte modify his behaviour? He then apologises for his disrespectful outbursts. But as long as Filipinos feel that he truly represents the people, all the best to them and their leader.
From Mr Brad Trump
UAE
Saving the country
The democratically elected leader is doing what he believes is right for the country, and he has the support of the people who elected him. It might backfire, but he has to take the opportunity to rid the country of the scourge of drugs and drug-dealing millionaires.
From Ms Kevin Henson
Angouleme, France
Following norms
I have always been intrigued how, when a leader does something that benefits the nation, he/she is rarely recognised. However, when an action occurs in contrast to the so-called social norm, regardless of propagandist influences, that same leader is judged purely on that one moment.
From Ms Maxene Dodds
UAE
It’s not right
Duterte’s idea is good, but paying civilians to murder people isn’t right in anyone’s standards. Good luck to him though.
From Mr Richard Doughton
Abu Dhabi
Does he know he’s president?
He is short tempered and emotional. Remember, one cannot change a country overnight. It needs planning, systems and consistency. So, if Duterte thinks that by killing drug lords or any other criminal that he will end crime, he is wrong. It will create disturbances for him in the coming days.
He is still in his election campaign mode, by using profanity for international leaders, threatening criminals and so on. Somebody needs to inform him that he won and now he’s the president.
From Mr Suhail Abdul Wadood
Dubai
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