Rappler Keeps Focus on Continuing Toll of the “Drug War”

CHEERS TO Rappler for keeping the “drug war” in the news. Its report last February 24 pointed out the new “epicenter” in the government’s continuing campaign with a count of the number of drug suspects in 2018.

In “Central Luzon: New Killing Fields in Duterte’s Drug War,” Rappler reported that based on data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), 542 drug suspects were killed in police operations in Central Luzon in 2018. The number eclipses Calabarzon’s 391 and Metro Manila’s 285 victims, reminding the public that the “drug war” is ongoing and continuing to exact a deadly toll.

“Nanlaban” (fought back) remains in the official narrative. Central Luzon police Chief of Staff Rhoderick Armamento told Rappler that those killed fought back when he was asked why there were so many deaths in the region.

Rappler observed that from July 1 to October 25 2016, Metro Manila cops killed 625, while there were 309 in Central Luzon. As the death toll in Central Luzon surpassed Metro Manila in 2018, Rappler noted that the amount of drugs seized seemed disproportionate to the larger number of drug suspects killed in the region: only 11,198 grams of shabu or crystal methamphetamine were seized in Region 3 compared to the 143,851 grams in Metro Manila from December 5, 2017 to February 2019.

Rappler found that police officials in Central Luzon were formerly assigned in Metro Manila. Chief Superintendent Joel Coronel, who is now regional director of the Central Luzon police was Manila Police District head in 2016 at the beginning of the drug war. Other top cops in the cities of Caloocan and Parañaque have been assigned and now hold positions in Bulacan and Nueva Ecija.

The report also noted that the killings from police ops have raised questions about possible human rights violations, requiring the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate. Jacqueline de Guia, spokesperson of the CHR, told Rappler that the Commission has noted a spike in HR cases in the region, adding that this has been a burden on their already overstretched agency.

The rest of the media can take their cue from Rappler’s continuing coverage of the “drug war,” which marks its third year in July. The report should lead other journalists to look at other aspects, including the government’s attention, or lack thereof, on rehabilitation. Other stories should check if there have been efforts to dismantle syndicates involved in the drug trade, as these are obviously active, given reports of cocaine found in Siargao and other locations. The news also recorded the president’s statements about the Mexican drug cartels operating in Manila. But reports did not attempt to follow up and check what the police are actually doing about these developments. Ironically, in a speech during the signing of the Universal Health Care on February 20, the president did not refer to the rehabilitation and health issues related to drugs, instead, he said his drug war will be “harsher on the days to come.”