Brothers and sisters, Vice President Leni Robredo received a newfound duty when she was appointed by President Duterte as cochair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs. In accepting her new responsibility, Leni said the most important consideration for her to accept the post as drug czar is to “stop the killings of innocent people and hold those people responsible accountable.”
The perspective many of our leaders share in regards to the system of eradicating our problem on illegal drugs is different from Leni’s. Her goal is clear—to save lives.
Our Vice President thinks that saving lives can be accomplished in two ways. First, she said “the biggest consideration is simple: if this is the opportunity to stop the killing of innocents and hold those responsible to account, I shall bear with it.”
In over three years since the campaign against drugs started, many of us became heavily worried and sorrowed from the many cases of killings of those who are said to have “retaliated,” even among the youth, and are not given proper justice. According to the latest record of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency or PDEA, not less than 5,500 people accused of using or selling illegal drugs have been slain during police operations since July 2016, until the end of June this year. It is a great challenge to hold members of the police accountable for their abuse of power in these killings. In claiming justice for the victims of this form of cruelty, the ongoing abuse against civilians will be stopped. In order to fulfill this, the Vice President must also be given the authority and power to investigate these cases, even if the victims have already passed away. The call for justice is strong, and it is the only thing that will save many from becoming victims of killings in the operations against drugs.
Second, Leni also said before that the issue of addiction to illegal drugs must be treated as a health problem. Therefore, drug dependents should be medically treated and helped to be able to avoid using destructive drugs. If this is the way of the government in fighting against illegal drugs, Leni must be given support by agencies concerned to promote health and develope livelihoods—like the Department of Health, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of Trade and Industry. We know the role of poverty in the issue of illegal drugs, which is why the majority of the thousands killed in operations against drugs consist of the poor.
This point of view toward the issue of illegal drugs, wherein the goal is to preserve the lives and dignity of people, is in line with the social teaching of the Church. If Jesus is alive today, surely His heart is filled with the will to heal those who have succumbed to illegal drugs, like what is said in the Book of Matthew 15:30, “Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.” Jesus surely mourns with those who have lost their loved ones, those slain in the war against drugs.
Brothers and sisters, life and healing is what Jesus desires for the sick, including those fallen to vices. Hopefully, following Leni’s decision to accept the duties assigned to her, may the culture of life preservation and true concern for the poor continue.
Make it a habit to listen to Radio Veritas 846 Ang Radyo ng Simbahan in the AM band, or through live streaming at www.veritas846.ph and follow its Twitter and Instagram accounts @veritasph and YouTube at veritas846.ph. For your comments, e-mail veritas846pr@gmail.com.