President Duterte was recently quoted to have said that he was
willing to kill the 3 million drug addicts in the Philippines if it were
the only way to solve the country’s drug problem (http://newsinfo. inquirer.net/820847/heil-digong).
But that is not the only way to solve the drug problem as the President most sadly falsely assumes. He fails to consider that drug addiction is a medical problem. Drug addicts need to be healed and not killed. His meting a death sentence on drug addicts is not only unjust but illegal. The law on the matter itself (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) does not consider them beyond salvation as the President seems to believe, for which extermination is the only solution, as Section 15 thereof most clearly provides that those who are apprehended or arrested, who are found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug, after a confirmatory test, shall be imposed a penalty of a minimum of six (6) months rehabilitation. Indeed, the law itself provides that they should be rehabilitated and not exterminated. Yet sadly, we have death squads roaming around killing persons who are merely drug dependents, who may still be rehabilitated and thus positively contribute to the country’s well-being.
But that is not the only way to solve the drug problem as the President most sadly falsely assumes. He fails to consider that drug addiction is a medical problem. Drug addicts need to be healed and not killed. His meting a death sentence on drug addicts is not only unjust but illegal. The law on the matter itself (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) does not consider them beyond salvation as the President seems to believe, for which extermination is the only solution, as Section 15 thereof most clearly provides that those who are apprehended or arrested, who are found to be positive for use of any dangerous drug, after a confirmatory test, shall be imposed a penalty of a minimum of six (6) months rehabilitation. Indeed, the law itself provides that they should be rehabilitated and not exterminated. Yet sadly, we have death squads roaming around killing persons who are merely drug dependents, who may still be rehabilitated and thus positively contribute to the country’s well-being.
It should likewise be borne in mind that drug addiction may only be a
symptom of a deeper problem. Studies show that persons with disability,
wanting to numb the physical and/or emotional pain they experience end
up with substance abuse (https://www.addiction.
com/4012/substance-abuse-disability/). Thus, meting a death sentence
on them is doubly illegal since their rehabilitation is in fact the
Government’s concern as mandated by the Magna Carta for Disabled
Persons.
Hitler did not only exterminate the Jews. He likewise also murdered mentally and physically disabled Germans whom he considered as burdens on society. This is the image of persons with disability which the Magna Carta precisely seeks to demolish, to accord to them the rights and privileges that they are entitled to as human persons and to break the social barriers which limit their fullest possible participation in the life of the community. Sadly, this very rationale of the law is being subverted by the President’s latest pronouncements on drug addicts.
We want our President to succeed as his success will ultimately redound to the people’s benefit. Instead of rationalizing and justifying his latest pronouncements, we who truly care for him and our people have to tell him that his view on drug addicts is a most grievous error.
Hitler did not only exterminate the Jews. He likewise also murdered mentally and physically disabled Germans whom he considered as burdens on society. This is the image of persons with disability which the Magna Carta precisely seeks to demolish, to accord to them the rights and privileges that they are entitled to as human persons and to break the social barriers which limit their fullest possible participation in the life of the community. Sadly, this very rationale of the law is being subverted by the President’s latest pronouncements on drug addicts.
We want our President to succeed as his success will ultimately redound to the people’s benefit. Instead of rationalizing and justifying his latest pronouncements, we who truly care for him and our people have to tell him that his view on drug addicts is a most grievous error.
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