Sadly, I have yet to hear really howls of protest from the human rights advocates and church leaders against drug-lordism, drug dealing and drug pushing as forceful and vociferous as the ones directed against the alleged errant [law] enforcers in the fight against this social scourge... Your concern is human rights, mine is human lives. The lives of our youth are being wasted and families are destroyed, and all because of the chemicals called shabu, cocaine, cannabis, and heroine.

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Various rights groups, including the Commission on Human Rights, aren't dismissing the problem of illegal drugs in the Philippines. What they outright condemn is the bloody drug war which has led to the death of at least 4,540 drug suspects in anti-drug operations. CHR Chairperson Chito Gascon said: “These calls and other public protestations are not meant to stop government from doing its job to serve and protect the people but rather are appeals for our public authorities to always adhere to law and the highest standards of professionals." Caloocan Bishop Virgilio Pablo David, meanwhile, said Duterte's statement "implies that the victims of drug-related killings are not human lives! Is not the right to life the most basic human right?"

Reviewed by Rappler ↗ · July 25, 2018