Finalists to TOSB search give Duterte, Congress failing grade

LEGAZPI CITY-All of the 20 finalists to the Ten Outstanding Students of Bicol (TOSB) search believe that President Duterte and the Philippine Congress performed their mandated functions poorly.

The TOSB finalists on Friday’s press conference expressed disappointment over the performance of Mr. Duterte and members of both houses of Congress because of their failure to deliver what they promised when they were elected during the 2016 national elections.

“Duterte failed to carry out his war on illegal drugs that resulted in thousands of drug personalities killed by government law enforcement operatives, which according to human rights advocates were victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK),” according to Mika Ramos, a TOSB finalist from Camarines Sur province.

Ramos said “government law enforcers have no license to kill, there are processes that are to be followed.”

Ramos believed that the fight against illegal drugs lacked the opportunity or room for reforms such as rehabilitative aspects and social services badly needed by drug dependents.

Marianne Rose Brusola, a finalist from Albay, said she welcomed the President’s campaign against illegal drugs but she did not favor the reported cases of EJK.

“Under the Constitution, people have the right to life,” she said.