Palace to spooked tourists, critics: Come to PH and enjoy the sun

Malacañang yesterday renewed its invitation to foreign critics to come to the Philippines and see the situation for themselves and while at it, also to have fun under the sun.

This after the Toronto Sun on Monday cautioned travelers from going to Manila as it listed the country’s capital city as one of the most dangerous cities in the world.

The publication described the streets of Manila as more of a “slaughterhouse than one of the world’s great cities.”

“Gangsters kill gangsters over women, drug turf and whatever suits their fancy. Extra-judicial assassinations by President Rodrigo Duterte’s death squads add to the sinister mix,” it said.

It also noted the 5,600 deaths by vigilantes in just one year.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said foreign critics of President Duterte’s drug war are listening to an echo chamber and should just visit the country to see for themselves.

“I think they’re listening to an echo chamber. I think they should come here and experience (that) it’s more fun in the Philippines,” Abella said during the Palace press briefing Thursday morning.

“They should experience the sun, the sand, the beaches,” he added.

According to Abella, the Toronto Sun report is not a cause of concern for the country.

“You look around from experience – is this a slaughterhouse? Of course not,” he said.

“I think they’ve just been listening [to an echo chamber], it just reverberates in the ears, I think. They haven’t really been here as far as I know,” he added.

Under the government’s #RealNumbersPH campaign, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that a total of 3,200 drug personalities were killed in 63,926 anti-drug operations conducted as of June 20, 2017.

The PNP also reported that a total of 86,933 drug personalities have been arrested while 1,308,078 surrenderees were facilitated.

According to Abella, President Duterte’s drug war is a “noble effort” as global experts cited the link between terrorism and crime and the role of illegal drugs.

“Global experts have recognized the intrinsic link between terrorism and crime, specifically the manufacture and trafficking of illicit drugs,” he said.

“The Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs is a noble effort to protect the security and safety of the Filipino people and the future of the nation,” he added.