REQUIRED RESEARCH
MINI CASE STUDY / ANALYSIS
1. What is the title of the article/issue?
“War on drugs: The violence, scars, doubts and families it left behind”
2. What is your source of the article/issue?
[Link], July 25, 2021
[Link] is the case about? This will cover the discussion of the case.
This case study focuses on the war on drugs in the Philippines in order to explore issues
related to extra-judicial killing, which remains common in many countries that have
abolished the death penalty and in many more that retain it but seldom carry out
judicial executions. In the years of Rodrigo Duterte’s presidency, thousands of people
were killed by police or by vigilantes who were encouraged to prosecute his war on
drugs. At a time when democracy is in retreat in many parts of the world, this case
illustrates how popular harsh punishment can be in states that have failed to meet their
citizens’ hopes for freedom, economic growth, and security.
4. What is the mitigating circumstance?
Executions by police and militia groups that target drug dealers and users not only
exacerbate the drug problem but constitute a violation of the right to freedom from
execution by extrajudicial killing. Duterte’s attention on drugs has also challenged health
officials to offer rehabilitation services and even consider targeted and sustained
community-based interventions.
5. What is the aggravating circumstance?
In the name of eliminating drug crime, President Rodrigo Duterte has plunged the
Philippines into a nightmare of brutal slaughter. Since the election of Rodrigo Duterte in
June 2016, a violent ‘war on drugs’ has claimed upwards of thousands of lives in the
Philippines. Among those who died have been dozens of children and adult who were
either specifically targeted or were inadvertently shot during anti-drug raids, what
authorities have called “collateral damage.” The vast majority of the killings have
occurred in impoverished communities, prompting accusations that, more than anything
else, the “drug war” is a war against the poor. Anyone can now be accused of any
crime or involvement in illegal drugs and be executed before and without having a
chance to publicly defend themselves in court is due to "apparent endorsements" of
President Duterte wherein it seems like he is promoting extrajudicial killings which in
return make people, particularly police officers and vigilantes, think that they have the
law in their own hands. In connection to these, summary executions also violate
humans' rights to dignity as suspected drug offenders who were killed had their faces
wrapped in tape and left lying wherever the encounters took places with cardboards
usually beside them saying: "I'm a drug pusher, do not emulate me."
6. How do you judge the morality of an act as evaluated in the circumstance?
Extrajudicial executions are unlawful and deliberate killings carried out by
officials, by order of a government or with its complicity or acquiescence. Extrajudicial
executions violate the right to life as enshrined in both Philippine and international law.
While life is the most basic of rights, many individuals are
robbed of this through the unjust practice of extrajudicial
killing, which is the deliberate killing of persons without a fair
and unbiased trial by jury.
Further, with the occurrence of
extrajudicial killings, those who
sinned because of
drugs don't get the chance to
change their lives and improve
themselves for the better.
As what the popular quotation
says, "Everyone deserves a
second chance."
Further, with the occurrence of extrajudicial killings, those who sinned because
of drugs don't get the chance to change their lives and improve themselves for the
better. As what the popular quotation says, "Everyone deserves a second chance."
Under our law, drug addicts are considered victims, not criminals and they all deserve
proper rehabilitation. And with this rehabilitation comes a new beginning for them
wherein they can use their lives to make things right and for better purposes. After all,
this should be the change Filipinos should want to have -- solution of a problem in a
just and moral way
Killing drug criminals, whether
confirmed or alleged, will not
make the Philippines a
peaceful country. Rather, it will
just create a more chaotic
environment for Filipinos.
Killing drug criminals, whether confirmed or alleged, will not make the Philippines
a peaceful country. Rather, it will just create a more chaotic environment for Filipinos.
Peace cannot be a guarantee as the number of deaths because of lack of due
process and trials continue to rise; thus, making many country men fear that one day,
they might be victims of summary executions. What Filipinos must do now is to unite
once again, and with one voice, ask to stop extrajudicial killings
