Today is one of the most awaited time in the Philippine political season
when the President reports the achievements of his administration to 100
million Filipinos. It will be the last time for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
to present his administration’s accomplishments coming from his last five years
stint and his plans for the remaining
months of his term.
The War on Drugs
Out of his many promises, his flagship campaign, the war on drugs will
surely be highlighted as among his legacies and will be received as a positive
in the eyes of his horde of supporters. But for the critics, dissenters, and
victims of the drug war, it is a failed attempt to curb drug proliferation and
succeeded only in killing small-time drug peddlers.
According to official government figures, members of the Philippine
National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency killed 5,903
individuals during anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to September 30,
2020.
But human rights groups estimated that there have already been at least
30,000 war on drugs related deaths, including killings outside police
operations that were made to look like a part of the anti-drug campaign.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet
described the war on drugs campaign as "widespread and systematic"
where numerous reports said that men in uniform were connected to the killings
and have violated engagement protocols.
Diminution Of Human Rights And Democracy Under The
Regime
Under his term, the very concept of human rights and the right to life
were brutally demonized by his communication strategists and cohorts, and troll
farms that peddle fake news and information. The democratic space has been
restricted and forms of critiques and dissent were not tolerated. Senator Leila
de lima, a staunch Duterte critique was jailed. ABS-CBN was closed. Maria Rezza
of Rappler was harassed with lawsuits. The number of lawyers killed under the
current regime is highest among the time of other presidents.
Further, the Philippines has been consistently named as one of the worst
places in Asia for attacks against environmental defenders. Under the Duterte
administration, it has become even deadlier as the Philippines ranks high, second in 2017, first in 2018, and second
again in 2019, as the deadliest country for environmental defenders according
to Global Witness Reports.
The passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill is the biggest and almost the
last nail in the coffin of our democracy. The fear of possible red-tagging
sends 37 petitions filed against the law to the Supreme Court.
Hope From Duterte’s Promised Changes Dies
"When the current President assumed the post, many among the CSO's
thought he will be an ally for our environmental advocacy. Inside me though, I
have great doubt. But I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Now, after five
years I am sure he is not what he valiantly proclaimed as he is. His most
recent action against the environment was the reversal of an important section
in Executive Order 79 passed during President Aquino's time, imposing a ban on
the issuance of new mining permits. By lifting the said ban, the environment
again becomes vulnerable to the abuse of big businesses which are into resource
extraction," Yolly Esguerra, National Coordinator of the PMPI - Philippine
Misereor Partnership Inc. said.
A member of PMPI, a Davao-based environmental and development NGO,
"As far as IDIS is concerned, we are disappointed with regard to his
policies for the environment. During his first years as President, he was very
firm about his position regarding extractive projects, i.e., mining. However,
before the end of his term, the SMI's Tampakan Mining Project was
surreptitiously given an extension. With the election fast approaching, we hope
that he makes policy changes that would leave a mark on environmental
protection," Atty. Mark Peñalver, Executive Director of Interfacing
Development Interventions for Sustainability said.
Failing the Covid-19 Pandemic Response
With the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippines plunges deeper, becoming
among the countries in Southeast Asian with the worst economic growth. The
Philippines ended the year 2020 with its worst economic performance since the
country began releasing growth data just after World War II in 1947. The
country's gross domestic product shrank by 9.5% last year. The lockdown
strategy and its military approach to curbing the pandemic did not help control
the covid spread, but instead the economic activities of the country.
The lockdown strategy and its military approach to responding to the
pandemic did not help control the spread of COVID-19. It halted instead
activities of people from all walks of life and bungled the support system for
the poorest of the poor who are in the informal economy and failed to give
attention to support the small and medium enterprises which could have saved
our economy and livelihood of people.
"Deepening poverty, increasing food insecurity, killings of IP
leaders, closures of Lumad schools and continued environmental destruction from
mining operations are some of the many pressing issues of indigenous peoples’
communities during the past 5 years since President Duterte came into power.
COVID-19 has exacerbated their vulnerability, marginalization, and inequality
in relation to access to health care services and access to food, nutrition,
and livelihoods. Responding to the basic needs of indigenous peoples,
respecting their rights, and working collaboratively with them should be given
priority by this administration," Fr. Jong Sabuga Executive Director of
Indigenous People's Apostolate based in Cagayan de Oro said.
The government's response is chaotic and lacks a clear-cut comprehensive
plan to get us out of the pandemic, manifesting in their ever-changing policies
that confuses and give mixed signals to all sectors of society. National and local government units are
continuously in a “state of dialogue” on what to do next and what right
policies to implement, a reflection of mediocrity from one of the world's
longest COVID-19 lockdown with the total number of cases at 1,548,755 and
27,224 deaths, and 1,467,269 total recoveries as of July 26, 2021
Despite the plea of many sectors in the health sector, lawmakers, and
civil society organizations, to sack the DOH Chief, the President is deaf and
mute. As the medical health workers heroically take on the cudgel to stop the
pandemic, within the bound of their logistical and technical expertise, there
is minimal support to the health sector, as they cry out for unreleased
additional pay, more health workers, more contact tracers. These are being
responded to even slower than how a snail or turtle moves forward.
Luckluster Action To Defend The Country’s Sovereignty
From China
It has been five years since the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in
favor of the Philippines’ claims over China's on the West Philippine Sea. No
substantive actions, or with firm resolved to protect it has been initiated.
Only dilly-dallying pronouncements, that swing to and fro, either in the favor
of the Philippines or for the good of China. The President even publicly
belittles the claim saying it is just a paper that can be thrown to a
wastebasket.
This might be the last time that we are going to hear and see President
Rodrigo Duterte on the podium of the Philippine Congress. Will there be a
redeeming announcement given the seeming downtrends in the most important
aspects of the nation’s life – economics and livelihood of people, health
system and rising covid cases. Will he
announce a much more comprehensive plan for the pandemic? Will he articulate a
less cowardly position on the West Philippine Sea? Will he have a change of
heart in dealing with his critiques?
This is his last redeeming center stage. We hope that he will steer
towards pro-environmental policies, upholding human rights and protecting our
territorial claims, giving rightful social services and sustainable livelihood
to the most vulnerable sectors, competently responding to COVID-19, and
promoting a path towards peace. We
fervently pray that these will be put into his agenda, for one final hoorah
during his last year's term. Can miracles still happen?
The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. is a social development and
advocacy network of 250 members from faith-based groups, non-government
organizations, and people’s organizations grouped into 15 regional clusters all
over the Philippines.
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