Malacanang said yesterday that there is no mounting opposition to the government’s war on drugs but reiterated that they understand the concerns of those who are against the campaign.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings Agnes Callamard had noted that there seems to be a mounting opposition to the country’s drug war as shown by the suspension of police operations and a more critical Catholic Church. “There is an increasing awareness on the part of the Filipino people that the war on drugs could hurt them,” Callamard said.
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the government understands the concerns but said the mounting opposition is most likely the “minority voice which favors liberal politics” who may have their own agenda. “We’re not saying they’re wrong, we’re saying that we understand where they’re coming from,” Abella said in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan.
President Duterte recently suspended the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation from enforcing drug laws over the involvement of some personnel in the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.
According to Abella, Duterte is trying to reconfigure and rebalance the system but insisted that the President is not stubborn to just do the things his own way without consulting.
“Everything is being rebalanced. Hindi naman siya matigas ang ulo. But he is very persistent in pursuing and making sure that the apparatus of drugs is destroyed,” he said. “Hindi siya bulag o bingi. I think the ordinary people understand that. Nakikita nila ‘yung praktikal na mga galaw ng Presidente at they appreciate that.”
(Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)