MARCOS AND DUTERTE: Extrajudicial killings compared
PHILIPPINES -- Aggravated by the worsening condition of illegal drugs in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte waged an all-out campaign against it when he assumed office on July 1, 2016.
As of Dec. 14, latest data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) revealed that the death toll has already reached 6,000 – the number of which is linked to the administration’s “war on drugs” including those from legitimate police operations, vigilante-style or unexplained killings including deaths which were under investigation.
According to the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions by Philip Alston, on Philippine Extrajudicial Killings 2001-2010, extrajudicial killings are rampant and remain to be unsolved in the country. Based from the same report, the Philippines also topped the list as the country with the most number of incidents of EJKs.
In August, Commission on Human Rights chairperson Chito Gascon stated that the magnitude of summary killings may be attributed to the atrocities and human rights violations during the martial law regime of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
The image below shows the number of extrajudicial killings during the term of Ferdinand Marcos (1975-1985) and that of Duterte’s during the first five (5) months of his administration.
The image above shows the huge difference on the number of extrajudicial killings between late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and President Rodrigo Duterte. Marcos, from 1975-1985 had a total killings of 2,520 while on the other hand, Duterte, on his first five (5) months of being president had a total of 3,671.
Duterte, even before his campaign, openly expressed admiration for Marcos. In fact, during his visit in Tarlac on February, he said that Marcos was the brightest Philippine president.
The Martial Law period under the administration of Marcos was rife with tortures, disappearances and death without due process. In relation, Duterte has stated the same willingness in his war on crime, saying that he does not care about human rights. Both of which the critics and supporters of the two individuals must be wary of.
In addition, Duterte himself does not believe that the late dictator is a criminal, allowing the former president to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani - citing the latter’s career as a soldier - which led to public protests.
On Dec. 11, Duterte promised to address the problem of extrajudicial killings in the country calling it as a “form of torture.” He also apologized to those who were affected on his “war on drugs” campaign saying that it is a matter of survival for the country.
It remains to be seen, however, if the killings will stop. -- The Quintessence