Palace downplays survey results on rights abuses in drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday said it is unruffled by a recent survey showing that majority of Filipinos believe that there are human rights abuses committed in President Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, but said the media and critics “demonized” the controversial campaign.

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) released its report showing that 76 percent of respondents believe that the administration’s drug war is marred by human rights abuses, while only 24 percent said there were “few” human rights abuses in the implementation of the drug war. The survey was conducted between December to 13 and 16, 2019.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the survey results is no longer surprising, and the President will not be deterred in his campaign.

“The Administration’s war on drugs has been demonized by the relentless disinformation launched by President’s vocal critics and the political opposition at its inception and not without the cooperation of some shameless media outlets,” he said.

“A lie repeated many times over is somehow stamped with a perception of truth,” he added.

Panelo further claimed these “false narratives” on the drug war involved associating the extra-judicial killings, which he insisted are not state-initiated, with the government’s drug-related operations.

“This constant vilification has gained an undeserved currency,” Panelo said.

Since President Duterte launched his drug on war in 2016, at least 5,500 drug suspects were killed in anti-drug operations, according to data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. However, human rights groups claimed that as much as 27,000 lives have been claimed by the drug war and by unknown hitmen.

The Palace official stressed that drug-related deaths occur due to the “violent resistance” of the suspects in buy-bust and police operations while “other deaths are results of internecine or killings within the drug organization.”

Nonetheless, Panelo said Duterte is “unconcerned about the popularity of his policies.”

“He remains obedient to the constitutional command to him of serving and protecting the Filipino people regardless of the consequences to his life, honor, and liberty,” he said.

The Palace official likewise pointed out that the same survey revealed that 73 percent of Filipinos believe that the number of illegal drug users has decreased since Duterte has taken office.

“The Filipino people are assured that even as this Administration is resolute in enforcing our laws in eliminating illegal narcotics, we are equally decisive in protecting the human rights of our citizens. We are likewise determined to punish to the fullest state agents who abuse their authority,” Panelo said.

“As the President says, as against them, there will be hell to pay. We encourage those who are victims of – or who are witnesses to – these abuses to come forward and file complaints so that justice will be served.”