After President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), some called it “straight oratory (no adlib).” He highlighted several issues including the drug war, corruption, peace negotiations, China, labor and employment, Boracay, land use, economics, Charter Change and national security. Progressive groups took to the streets to show their disgust with what they consider the president’s failed promises; they called for land reform, opposed Charter Change, demanded the full “regularization” of workers, claimed human rights abuses, and protested the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Duterte lambasted detractors on the drug war. He stated: “If you think that I can be dissuaded from continuing this fight because of demonstrations, your protests, which I find, by the way, misdirected, then you got it all wrong. Your concern is human rights – mine is human lives. [applause] The lives of our youth are being wasted and families are destroyed, and all because of the chemicals called shabu, cocaine, cannabis, and heroine.”

Critics pounced on “Your concern is human rights – mine is human lives”

While the president was directing his comments towards those who oppose plans to rid the country of drug syndicates and advocates, a Pulse Asia survey conducted between June 15 and 21 found 69 percent of those polled considered the eradication of illegal drugs as Duterte’s “most important achievement.” A poll taken in the same month also found the president with an 88 percent approval rating.

Filipinos appear to find the president’s method the ideal solution to reduce crime. In addition, the evening news always mentions some link to drugs with every criminal act reported, which further portrays the idea of drugs wreaking havoc on society, particularly among families.

For Duterte, human rights means giving chances for drug lords and dealers, the church serves as a refuge for drug coddlers, and progressive groups who question the president are also sympathizers for those associated with illegal drugs. What he wants is to save people from the scourge of illegal drugs; with a majority of those in urban areas, particularly the lower-class, supporting him.

As the president always says, “I don’t care if I burn in hell for as long as the people I serve live in paradise.”

Where Duterte goes wrong

Following the principle of St. Thomas Aquinas, in moral law we deal with our relations with other people; the aim is to enable the world to live together in peace and harmony. Being that we are social beings, it is important we act in ways that do not lead to the destruction of groups.

Article 2 of the Human Rights Act of 1998, a law passed in the United Kingdom, affirms the law protects one’s right to life. In the case of Pretty vs. the United Kingdom, a women suffering from an incurable degenerative disease wanted control over when and how she died; she hoped her husband would help take her life. While seeking assurance he would not be prosecuted, the European Court of Human Rights found the right to life does not include a right to choosing death, which means there is no right to die at the hands of a third party. The decision shows one cannot separate human rights from human lives.

A study by New York City-based non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch claimed over 4,500 people were killed in anti-drug operations between June 30, 2016 (Duterte’s first day in office) and June 30 of this year. The study also claimed police officers routinely executed unarmed individuals, with illegal drugs and weapons planted on the victims in many instances.

Those who applauded the “Your concern is human rights – mine is human lives” line only show an affirmation of the banality of evil and normalizing a culture of impunity.

The government must use full force of the law and file charges against violators, and jail dealers and supplies – save the users.

Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution Bill of Rights reads: “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

Laws provide social cohesion and equality. What Duterte must realize is people are not blind and despite high approval ratings and multitudes of supporters, social turmoil will rise at any time and result in the president waking up to his worst nightmare./WDJ