PH could take a page from Thailand’s drug war—Hontiveros

Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday said the Philippines could use some lessons from its neighbor Thailand in dealing with the drug problem in the country, amid the piling body count in the government’s relentless war against drugs and criminality.

Hontiveros, who went to the Thai capital of Bangkok for a study visit, said the Duterte administration should focus not only on law enforcement but also on rehabilitation efforts.

“There’s a broad way of looking at this na mas epektibo, mas makatao, at hindi lang mas may paiigtingin ang human rights at due process, but will actually enable our law enforcement authorities to achieve their objectives. Ito nga ‘yung pagtingin sa drug problem natin through a public health lens, at pag-consider na gamitin din natin ‘yung harm reduction strategies,” Hontiveros said in an INQ&A interview on Tuesday evening.

(There is a broad way of looking at this that is more effective, more human, and not only more considerate of human rights and due process, but will actually enable our law enforcement authorities to achieve their objectives. This is by looking at our drug problem though a public health lens and by considering using harm reduction strategies.)

Hontiveros said the harm reduction intervention, which is being used in about 90 countries, seeks to reduce the damage inflicted by drug abuse to both the user and to the community.

The senator and former PhilHealth director said Thailand tried a different approach and recognized through policies that harm reduction was a more appropriate strategy that “served both health and law enforcement needs.”

Hontiveros said Thailand’s new approach documented less incidents of drug dependence, less number of young people in substance abuse, and less incidents of violence against the police.

“If we have this vision of a universal health care system, built in terms of advances in health human resources, mas equipped sila (they are more equipped) to look at drug dependence, drug abuse as a medical condition na kailangan ding gamutin (that also has to be cured),” she said.

“Kailangan natin ‘yung law enforcement for sure. Pero kung ‘yun lang, puro ganun ang nagiging epekto. Pero kung ‘yung law enforcement ikinambal mo ‘yung public health including harm reduction, mukhang mas nagpo-produce ng better results,” Hontiveros added.

(We need law enforcement, for sure. But if that is all, the effect will be the same. But if you couple law enforcement with public health including harm reduction, that could produce better results.)

READ: PhilHealth eyed for drug addicts

‘Allergic to criticisms’

Citing first-hand accounts from civil society advocates, medical practitioners, and other insiders in Thailand, Hontiveros said there were striking similarities between the Philippines and its Asian neighbor’s relentless war on drugs, particularly the government’s short time frame and its “very assertive demand on law enforcement authorities.”

“I think there are good lessons for us to learn from the Thai experience,” Hontiveros said, referring to the drug war spearheaded by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003.

“It sounds quite familiar. ‘Yung pushback din nila against international criticism, na sabi ni Shinawatra noong nagpuna ang United Nations, something like ‘the UN is not my father.’ Very allergic sa puna ng ibang bansa. And more than 2,000 deaths in 3 months, na in the following administration inimbestigahan nila, they did an assessment of the war on drugs, at nalaman nila na kalahati daw ng napatay ay wala naman talagang kinalaman sa droga,” she added.

(It sounds quite familiar. Their pushback against international criticism, where Shinawatra said something like ‘the UN is not my father’ when the United Nations criticized him. Very allergic to the criticisms of other countries. And more than 2,000 deaths in 3 months, which the following administration investigated on; they did an assessment of the war on drugs and they found out that half of those who died had no involvement in drugs.)

Duterte himself has been entangled in a word war with international observers and rights advocates, including no less than the United Nations, to the extent of threatening to pull the Philippines out of the world body.

READ: Yasay: PH not leaving UN; Duterte just exasperated

As of Sept. 5, the Inquirer’s “Kill List” notes 871 drug-related deaths since June 30 or after Duterte took office.

Rehabilitation, poverty alleviation

Asked about factors that contributed to the success of Thailand and other countries in their healthcare efforts, Hontiveros said their governments were very committed in policy-making, have enough money and “willing to spend it in the right away.”

As the budget hearings in the Senate kick off, Hontiveros said sufficient funds should be allocated in creating more rehabilitation facilities for drug dependents, as mandated by the Dangerous Drugs Board.

“Particularly babantayan ko ‘yung budget ng DOH (Department of Health) para sana ’yung priorities ng department mapondohan: dagdag na rehabilitation centers…Isa lang ito sa mga kongkretong isusulong ko,” she said.

(I will keep an eye on the budget of the DOH in particular, so that all the priorities of the department may be addressed: more rehabilitation centers…This is only one of the things I will pursue.)

While admitting that drug use is indeed a problem, Hontiveros said the deeper crisis that needs to be resolved down to its roots is poverty.

“Tingin ko oo problema ‘yung drug use, but I think the most important, pinakamalalim pa ring problema, kahirapan pa rin,” she added.

(I believe so, drug use is a problem, but I think the most important, still deeply rooted problem, is poverty.)

READ: THE KILL LIST