MANILA
Some here are starting to ask, why isn’t anyone bothered by the spate of summary killings taking place in our midst? Where is the outrage?
Since President Duterte assumed office last June 30, close to 1,000 people have been summarily killed here. This number is as of this writing, it’s certain to rise when you get to read this column.
His supporters don’t seem bothered. Their admiration and approval of him remain staunch.
Those caught in between, perhaps the the largest segment of the population, are ambivalent about the carnage that’s taking place.
It usually takes time for outrage to develop, especially among us Filipinos, an infinitely patient people. Recall how long dictator Ferdinand Marcos held sway before we Filipinos yelled: “Enough!” It took 20 years before critical mass formed to topple the despot.
And so it will be this time. But, hopefully, not long enough for autocracy to take root and flower.
It will be a race between two potential forces. Mr. Duterte will have to show results enough to impress his rabid fans and retain their backing. He will have to show results enough to persuade dissenters to lend him their tolerance. And he will have to show results enough to keep the fence-sitters where they are, harmless and not a threat to the Duterte administration.
It’s a race against time. That’s why Duterte is in such a hurry to show results. He knows people and fortune are fickle. And he doesn’t want to run out of time.
The second potential force in the race are those who are beginning to find their voices and starting to dissent. They see the killings without due process and fear where this is all going. They are starting to raise their voices, inchoate for the moment but which they hope will be picked up by others as they summon up their courage.
They’re beginning to ask: Is this the society we want, government forces killing suspects without the benefit of due process? Is this the society we want where people are killed with no questions asked? Is this the society we want where human life has no value? Is this who we are as a people?
Personally, I don’t think this is who we Filipinos are, or at least want to be. Many of us aren’t bothered by the slaughter of fellow Filipinos who are suspected of being criminals. But I thinkthe rest of us value due process where everybody has the right to explain himself or defend himself or herself against accusations of criminality.
In many countries life is sacred and their governments don’t just take the lives of suspects. It’s easy for our neighbors to say: He’s a criminal, a drug pusher, or an addict, he deserves to die.
Really? Isn’t it the responsibility of a judge to say whether someone is a criminal? At the very least, shouldn’t it be a judge who’ll decide what level of punishment a specific crime deserves?
It seems at this point that, with our general silence, we are willing to condone this kind of summary justice. This isn’t progress. It’s going back to the rule of the gun.
Do I blame those who voted for Duterte? Not at all. I disagree with Duterte’s methods of combating crime and illegal drugs, but I don’t blame those who put him in office.
I realize that in our country, there are different levels of discernment and political maturity among the people. People believe in different methods of solving problems. At this point many of us aren’t bothered by Duterte’s brand of quick justice.
But will the voices of dissent grow into a crescendo of protest? The race between Duterte and a force to challenge him could spiral out of control and be destabilizing.
Duterte has the upper hand because he has quickly succeeded in gaining control of two branches of government. The onus then will fall on the judicial branch, specifically the Supreme Court.
Or, depending on how the high court acts (or doesn’t), the onus falls on the shoulders of the champions of due process.
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Oligarchy