‘AnTokhang’, a wake-up call for justice
President Duterte recently announced the suspension of Oplan Tokhang – a measure enacted by the police to apprehend suspected drug users and pushers – due to the controversy it received after the kidnap-slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo.
Police claimed he was under arrest but fought back, which prompted them to kill him. Jee’s widow, however, claims he was taken from their home and remained missing even after she had paid P5 million to his kidnappers.
Some arrested suspects claim he was killed only hours after he was kidnapped and was cremated the following day.
Duterte’s rationale for Tokhang is to deter crime. He claims it was just to use self-defense, basing on PNP’s protocol.
But Tokhang denies the people their inherent rights to life and due process, as stipulated in the Constitution. The writ of amparo was crafted to defend the innocent and alleged criminals from extrajudicial killings.
Tokhang leads us to the legal inconsistency that mars the nation.
Because of Tokhang, Lady Justice has fallen asleep while standing, one hand still holding the scales. Her other hand is firing a gun at those who are innocent until proven otherwise.
The justice Duterte dreams of – carried out by the police – is a nightmare due to corruption among the police themselves.
Tokhang goes against the hopes, ideals, and aspirations of the Filipino people, as embodied in the Constitution. Hence, the suspension of Oplan Tokhang is necessary to protect the people and to uphold justice.
Adrian, 17, is a center-left student from O.B. Montessori-Las Piñas whose love for music, literature, caffeine, and the Philippines fuels his yearning for knowledge in order to try to make the world a better place. Adrian won the top prize for Editorial Writing in the recently concluded Youthink x Philippine STAR Campus journalism contest.