Lacson: ‘Disturbing’ to know 73% of Pinoys believe EJKs happen in drug war

A Pulse Asia survey showing 73 percent of Filipinos saying they believe extrajudicial killings (EJKs) are happening amid the government’s war on drugs is “revealing, if not disturbing,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said Monday.

“Undeniably, it shows frustration among a big majority of our people who seem resigned to the reality that the country’s drug problem could be solved even by resorting to extra judicial means, as perceived and projected, rightly or wrongly by human rights groups and other critics of the administration’s methods in addressing the same,” Lacson said in a text message.

“One thing is certain though - the drug problem has persisted all these years and it’s only now that Filipinos finally see a president who has shown political will and dogged determination to fight and lick the problem hands on,” he said.

A Pulse Asia survey conducted from September 24 to 30 said 88 percent of Filipinos support the war on drugs while only 2 percent oppose the campaign. The remaining 9 percent were undecided.

However, 73 percent of the total 1,200 respondents said they believe extrajudicial killings (EJKs) are happening amid the government’s war on drugs.

Those who believe EJKs are happening increased in all areas, except in the Visayas, compared to the June 2017 survey. In the National Capital Region, 78 percent believe EKJs are committed amid the war on drugs, while 75 percent believe such in other Luzon areas outside NCR.

In the Visayas and Mindanao, 68 and 67 percent of those surveyed, respectively, believe EJKs are happening in the government’s drug war.

Despite this, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said the government should rid the country of illegal drugs “whatever it takes.”

Sotto said the 73 percent who believe that EJKs are happening do not necessarily think that the killings are state-sponsored.

“Only the opposition thinks so. I have been fighting this war on drugs since 1988 and it was a lonely fight. You cannot expect me now to not give my all out support,” Sotto said in a text message.

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said President Rodrigo Duterte should perceive the numbers as a reminder that the government’s strategy in implementing the war on drugs should not be based on fear.

“Para sa’kin ay isang malinaw na writing on the wall na dapat sana ay basahin at isaloob ni Presidente para bumalik sila sa paraan ng demokrasya,” Hontiveros said.

“Hindi nila kayang mag-gobyerno batay sa takot, batay sa banta, batay sa karahasan at walang kapalit sa kanilang pag-gobyerno sa pagbigay daang muli sa karapatang pantao,” she added.

Senator Sonny Angara, meanwhile, said the government should use the public’s support for the war on drugs by taking “bold measures” that are within the bounds of the law.

“Government should use the expression of support to take bold measures within the bounds of the Constitution and respectful of human rights. Public opinion has turned against the current approach because of the Kian incident among others,” Angara said in a text message.

Angara was referring to the death of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos last August.

“People want the police to respect life and respect the presumption of innocence and other human rights. Government should also set the example and not take shortcuts in law enforcement given its awesome powers and resources,” Angara said. — RSJ, GMA News