Nov. 23 2016, 5:15 p.m. – DRUG addiction is a public health concern rather than a criminal act, speakers in an advocacy forum on extrajudicial killings said last Nov. 23 at the Benavides Auditorium.
Marielle Marcaida, of the University of the Philippines Political Science Core Group, said the Duterte administration’s war against drugs was “doomed to fail,” as it only targets the vulnerable members of society.
“Drug addiction is a public health problem. These users are patients and not monsters that don’t have the right to life,” said Marcaida.
Marcaida urged the administration to rehabilitate and educate drug offenders.
Nov. 23 2016, 5:15 p.m. – DRUG addiction is a public health concern rather than a criminal act, speakers in an advocacy forum on extrajudicial killings said last Nov. 23 at the Benavides Auditorium.
Marielle Marcaida, of the University of the Philippines Political Science Core Group, said the Duterte administration’s war against drugs was “doomed to fail,” as it only targets the vulnerable members of society.
“Drug addiction is a public health problem. These users are patients and not monsters that don’t have the right to life,” said Marcaida.
Marcaida urged the administration to rehabilitate and educate drug offenders.
Fr. Delfo Canceran O.P. of the UST Ecclesiastical Faculties said the victims of extrajudicial killings were deprived of forgiveness and mercy.
“Ang nangyayari kasi pinapatay na lang agad, dahil nga nasa isip ng Pangulo ay pagpatay sa campaign laban sa droga. And even the police have the mentality now that killing is good, when the end doesn’t justify the means,” Canceran said.
Medicine student Raymond John Naguit blamed Thomasians’ lack of exposure to sociopolitical realities for their lack of concern over extrajudicial killings.
“Kailangan kasi `yung exposure natin something deeper para mas kumirot sa Tomasino. Aside from that hindi tayo used to being socially active, we are trying to introduce it now pero it may take a while for it to develop truly,” Naguit said in an interview with the Varsitarian.
Michael Beltran of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap branded the drug market in the country a “market for cheap labor,” which supposedly encourages Filipinos to engage in selling and using drugs.
“Itigil na din natin sana `yung victim-blaming. May mga socioeconomic problems na nagresulta para dito at ang droga ay isa sa mga ‘yan,” Beltran added.
The forum, titled “Batas, Hindi Dahas,” was spearheaded by fourth-year sociology students in partnership with the Simbahayan, Faculty of Arts and Letters Student Council, UST Sociological Society and Junior High School Social Sciences Learning Area. Mia Arra C. Camacho
