Humane ‘war’ on drugs
I’M uncomfortable with the government’s mantra on the war on drugs. War is a state of armed conflict which is generally characterized by extreme aggression, destruction, and mortality. Not every armed conflict is a war.
A fight between individuals, between gangs, drug cartels are not considered a war. And therefore, the “war” on drugs need not be to kill or be killed. A case in point is the performance of the Bogo City Police in the province of Cebu.
Its top honcho, Superintendent Byron Allatog, has been honored for his outstanding leadership in clearing the city of illegal drugs without shedding blood. As a devout Catholic and an Igorot, Allatog’s faith and culture do not condone killings. “Kapag may napatay kami, kailangan akong umuwi sa amin kasi kakatay kami ng apat na baboy.
Pagdadasalan pa nila doon.” The Washington Post reports that Allatog’s order of don’t kill ought to go unsaid, but President Duterte and his top cop, Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, talk incessantly of slaughter, casting mass killing as necessary, even just.
Superintendent Allatog has proven them wrong. The state can win this campaign. Without or less bloodshed. Allatog said his men were still allowed to use force if under threat. The Philippine National Police Operational Procedures states that when confronted with an armed offender, police officers can use “only such necessary and reasonable force should be applied as would be sufficient to overcome the resistance put up by the offender; subdue the clear and imminent danger posed by him; or to justify the force/act under the principles of self-defense, defense of relative, or defense of stranger.” The Bogo City police force has done its mandate well, as none of the arrested drug suspects had resisted arrest. And now we see the same thing happening in Negros Occidental.
SunStar Bacolod reported that the City Drug Enforcement Unit of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has arrested Mohaisin Magondacan, a level one high-value target under the group of Camaria, one of the identified drug leaders in the city. Elsewhere in the province, illegal drug trafficking suspects were arrested in other parts of Bacolod, and in E.B. Magalona and Calatrava towns.
The Visayans are showing a humane side in the campaign against drugs. Well that our brothers and sisters in the PNP learn from the Visayans. Hip, hip hooray for the Visayans. God bless you for showing the way for the country to follow. SSBacolod