By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/ PNA
MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday took “strong exception” to a Washington Post story that centers on the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
In a statement issued through its official page, the Embassy tagged the article as “a hasty generalization that has no foundation in reality.”
“We take strong exception to the article entitled, ‘This is Manila’ that appeared on the front page of the Washington Post on 25 February 2019,” it said.
“It is disappointing how this article hides behind the guise of journalism to advance an agenda that seeks to discredit the Philippines in the eyes of the international community,” it added.
The article “This Is Manila” tells the story of Ferdinand Jhon Santos, a suspected drug user, whose body was found dead in a river in Manila last January.
It also featured the number of drug personalities killed in operations nationwide as well as the estimates from rights groups.
“Whether the deaths are mostly related to Duterte’s war on drugs is unclear. But what connects them all is a kind of numbed silence,” the article read.
The Embassy in its response stressed that “as a nation that cherishes freedom, democracy and justice, and as a responsible member of the international community, the Philippines upholds the rule of law and human rights in all its endeavors.”
It also mentioned the American daily’s failure to mention that “majority of Filipinos” continue to back the government in the fight against illegal drugs.
This, as it cited the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations which shows that eight in 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
“Reduced criminality is a major driver of public support. According to the data of the Philippine National Police (PNP), total crime volume has gone down from 675,816 in 2015 to 473,068 in 2018, or a total decrease of 30 percent,” it said.
“In particular, the incidence of focus crimes such as homicide, physical injury, and rape, has shown a marked decrease during the same period. The PNP believes that there is a strong correlation between illegal drug use and focus crimes,” it added.
The Embassy clarified that those tasked to enforce the law are also subject to it.
From January 2016 to December 2018, at least 9,102 erring police personnel were meted disciplinary penalties including dismissal from service, demotion, suspension, forfeiture of salary, reprimand, restriction and withholding of privileges.
More than 7,000 also received warnings, bringing the total number of disciplined personnel to 16,391 or 8 percent of the entire police force.
From its end, the Embassy assured it will continue to engage “in sincere, constructive, and evidence-based dialogue” the country’s international partners.
