What is Right

Cartoon by Francis Laboga

Illegal drugs have been the top of the country’s problems for decades. And it has been the administration’s top priority –to eradicate the problem; to end the endless crimes committed by drug users.

                 Crime went down in the country by 49% since the president was in place. Drug pushers surrendered, drug lords were killed. It may sound good to hear that those terrifying people are now in the hands of the government and that the people are now protected from any untoward crime they will commit.

                 But are the people really safe? Every day, there are at least two alleged drug addicts killed. Families would say that the person who was killed already presented himself to surrender. Then the police would say he was still a user and hasn’t surrendered yet. Who is telling the truth: the families protecting the murdered member, or the officer who may have not done an official investigation?

One of the major universities in Cebu rallied about the killings happening every day –to stop the murder of those people. They might be considered criminals, but they are still humans with a right to live and should still undergo a proper investigation.

Are the officials protecting the country or are they protecting themselves? Police officials known to be protectors of drugs have been named. Is it their way to somehow clean their name?

There are bloodsheds every day due to the change the citizens are eager for. But were they prepared to see it with their eyes? Were they prepared to see the possibility that maybe one of their family members would get killed because they were suspected as a user?

Fight for what’s right they say, but what is right? To kill the people who kill? Or to let those killers go and allow them to murder innocents?

-Joveth Fanilag