Who Should Be Protected First?

Happy Tuesday Hivers!

Since former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's term ended, there have been many reported cases of robberies on the streets and in public transportation. There have also been heartbreaking reports of young girls and teenagers being raped and, in some cases, killed afterward. Entire families have been massacred, and there have been incidents of people being stabbed while simply walking on the streets. According to news reports, suspects in these crimes were allegedly under the influence of illegal drugs.

Because of these incidents, many Filipinos once again fear walking alone, going home late at night, or using public transportation. For many people, the sense of safety they once felt has been replaced by fear, and old traumas have started to resurface.

During President Duterte's term, one of his main priorities was protecting his people, which is why he launched the war on drugs. He believed that when a person becomes addicted to illegal drugs, their judgment can be seriously affected, increasing the risk that they may commit violent crimes such as murder, rape, stabbing, or robbery.

Because of this, his administration introduced the TokHang program, from the Cebuano words toktok ("knock") and hangyo ("plead" or "request"). Under this program, authorities visited suspected drug users and dealers to encourage them to stop using illegal drugs and voluntarily surrender through peaceful means.

Source

From my perspective, the goal was not only to protect innocent people from drug-related crime but also to give drug users an opportunity to change their lives by surrendering and seeking a different path. The objective was to create a safer and more peaceful community for everyone.

However, in politics, no matter what a leader does, those in the opposition will often criticize it. During the war on drugs, some drug addicts or users were killed after allegedly resisting law enforcement officers. These incidents became a major reason why many critics and opposition groups called for justice and emphasized the human rights of those who died.

What many Filipinos, including myself, have questioned is this: Why were there such strong and consistent calls for justice for the suspected drug users who died, while the innocent victims of drug-related crimes seemed to receive far less public attention? Where were the same loud demands for justice for those who were raped, murdered, stabbed, robbed, or whose families were torn apart because of drug-related violence?

For me, innocent people also have human rights. They also deserve justice, protection, and the freedom to live without fear. If we are going to fight for human rights, then we should also fight just as hard for the rights of innocent victims. So, who should society protect first, drug addicts or ordinary, law-abiding people who simply want to live in peace?

That is why I miss Duterte's leadership. From my perspective, he was a leader who was willing to make difficult decisions because he believed it was his duty to protect the people. He understood that ordinary and innocent citizens also have rights, the right to live in a safe, peaceful, and secure community without constantly fearing crime. For me, protecting innocent and ordinary citizens is one of the government's greatest responsibilities, and that is the kind of leadership I value.

Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Cheers!

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