Comparing extrajudicial

killings in the Philippines

and US
For the poor, there is no due process. Suspicion or accusation is warrant enough
to kill them.
Vicente L. Rafael
These are grim days for human rights around the world. In the United States and
its former colony, the Philippines, extrajudicial killings long practiced but often
swept aside have recently become the norm.
Is it possible to think comparatively, which is to say critically, about the connection
between these two regimes of extra-judicial killings thousands of miles away: the
police execution of black citizens and other peoples of color in the US on the one
hand and the Presidentially-mandated, police and vigilante incited and performed
executions of purported drug dealers and drug addicts in the Philippines on the
other?
In the US, the targeting of black bodies has a very long history. It is rooted in
centuries of racialized slavery, segregation and settler colonialism productive of
and sustained by an ideology of white supremacy. The history of these practices
and ideology continue to be deeply entrenched and institutionalized in militarized
modes of policing which have emerged since the 1970s in response to urban
insurgencies in US cities. Indeed, the history of policing in America has its roots
in slave patrols bands of armed white men employed by slave holders to keep

blacks in check and search for runaways as well as a long history of local
codes designed to criminalize the mere presence of Native American and
immigrants of color in urban areas. The system of discriminatory policing is also
sustained by a vast prison-industrial complex. The criminal justice system in the
US disproportionately incarcerates and disenfranchises people of color, placing
them under constant surveillance even when they are released from prison.
The climate for extrajudicial killings has been further stoked by the ready
availability of assault rifles and other high-powered guns. Thanks to the lobbying
efforts of Second-Amendment fundamentalists such as the NRA and the gun
industry, the US now has a heavily armed citizenry. This volatile combination of
racism and guns has literally triggered the recurring murder of black people by
police forces and, more recently as in Dallas, the occasional armed response by
a lone black gunman.

Mostly poor
In the Philippine case, things are, of course, different.
The targets of extrajudicial killings are mostly poor. Those who are influential and
wealthy are publicly accused but held off from execution and subject to
investigation, such as the police generals named by President Duterte. For the
poor, however, there is no due process. Suspicion or accusation is warrant
enough to kill them. Their bodies are displayed, at times with signs, for everyone
to see as both warning to other dealers and as marks of the will of a sovereign
power, as in any public execution. Terrorizing ordinary citizens, the display of their
corpses are ways for the regime to claim for itself the power of their enemies and
project this power to the people.
What about the comparative responses to extrajudicial killings?
In the US, anti-racist movements such as Black Lives Matter arise to protest the
killings. They draw on a long history of civil rights activism that appeal to liberal
democracy even as they are critical of its discriminatory application. Media

debates are intense, and the conservative press aside, there is a real debate to
recast issues and put forth solutions both on the local and national level. And the
US being an imperial power, it is not uncommon that racist violence at home are
often linked to racist warfare abroad, and more generally the racializing inequities
of global capitalism. Hence, many have pointed out the irony of President Obama
denouncing both the police murders of blacks even as he presides over a kill-list
of suspected terrorists in the Middle East targeted for drone assassination. The
use of a robot to kill the alleged assassin of Dallas cops during a Black Lives
Matter demonstration shows how the counter-terrorist weaponry used abroad has
come home to roost in the US cities.

HUMAN RIGHTS. The Philippines is one of the worst places for human rights defenders, 32 of
whom were killed in 2015. Image courtesy of Raffy De Guzman/Rappler

In the Philippines, social movements have yet to emerge questioning extrajudicial

killings.

While some Senators and human rights advocates raise objections, no one
wants to be seen as coddling or protecting those who are killed. The communist
Left and its allies have so far remained circumspect over these killings in an
attempt to solidify their coalition with Duterte. Some of the armed groups have
even acted as vigilantes to carry out killings in the provinces. Everyone, or at
least most everyone, thus assumes that those who are killed are guilty and their
innocence need not be proved. They are dead because they deserve to be dead
according to this solipsistic populism. They have forfeited their rights, and due
process would simply be a waste of time and resources, according to this logic,
since courts are corrupt and drug dealers, armed with lots of cash, will simply
bribe their way out of prosecution.
Unlike the US, victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines start out as being
racially or ethnically identical with their perpetrators. But being associated with
illegal drugs renders them into a different race altogether: one deserving neither
human recognition nor humane treatment. They become in the eyes of the
President, the police and vigilantes, pieces of garbage polluting society and so
needing to be cleared away. Their corpses then become surfaces which serve as
living signs of an ominous power capable of overcoming the power of death itself.
In both the US and Philippines cases, there is thus a process of racialization that
takes place. In the US, it entails the "blackening" or browning of bodies
tantamount to their criminalization and the necessary prelude for the police to
render summary judgment as to who shall live and who shall die. But the
response to police violence and white supremacy is loud and swift: wide-spread
opposition develops, calls are made for reform and the prosecution of guilty
police, academic analysis and policy debates ensue. Even if it seems like little
changes, the political and ethical stakes of opposing racialized extra-judicial
killings are clear. The ready availability of cell phones to record killings have
further given citizens an important tool for raising awareness and providing proof
of these police murders.
In the Philippines, again, nothing of this sort has or is likely to happen.

Poor people, to begin with, have few rights that the middle class or the wealthy
are compelled to recognize. From the perspective of the latter, the poverty of the
former is not related to the wealth of those above; the causes of their destitution
are rarely traced to the privilege of the rich; and their tendency to turn to crime,
including the dealing and consumption of illegal drugs, are disconnected from
any understanding of their immiseration and the precariousness of their daily
lives. Historically excluded from the liberal elite democracy inherited from
nationalist ilustrados, the poor exist to be exploited, their votes bought, their labor
used up, their sufferings patronized and made into the material for soap operas
and political sloganeering. Small wonder then that they can be easily racialized:
set aside as less than human and casually killed, their deaths weighing less than
a centavo on the heads of those above. By subsuming the poor as a separate
race, the class-based violence of the state is also tinged with racist intent.
But what about the poor themselves? What is their understanding of extrajudicial
killings?
I'm not sure and Im not aware of much research on this topican absence which
is itself telling of the seriousness, or lack of it, with which their views are taken by
the political and cultural intelligentsia. But we can guess at some of the reasons
why they stand by while the killings occur. Perhaps some support the President
and the police, seeing drug dealers as non-humans with little or no rights.
Perhaps they have been victimized by dealers themselves, suffering their
extortions and violence. Indeed, some of those targeted have been corrupt cops
known for taking bribes and selling drugs. One can imagine how their execution
might seem like just deserts to those who knew them.
No doubt, the poor are also fearful of intervening directly. Bereft of resources,
they feel their disenfranchisement and vulnerability on the most practical level.
Rather than confront state authorities, many opt for a variety of traditional tactics
to negotiate with themfrom bribes to compliance, from collaboration to flight,
though very rarely do the poor resort to assassination and other violentand
riskier--forms of retaliation against the police. In short, they will do anything to

deflect the full force of those above while inflecting that force towards maximizing
their chances for survival.
In any case, the seeming passivity, maybe even consent, of the poor to
extrajudicial killings remains a real puzzle. The relative absence of collective
class-based response occurs amid the sharp and finely developed sense of
class-consciousness whereby the poor have a deep understanding of what it
means to be poor.
This gap between action and consciousness is undoubtedly common in many
places and among other classes. But in the context of extrajudicial killings aimed
specifically at the poor, it stands in stark contrast to the strength of anti-racist
discourse and resistance in the US. Such a contrast deserves further study.
Rappler.com
Vicente L. Rafael teaches history at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Filed under:Duterte administrationRodrigo Duterteextrajudicial killingssummary executionswar on
drugshuman rights

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WATCH: Leila de Lima's

privilege speech on
extrajudicial killings
Watch it live here on Rappler
Rappler.com
Published 3:02 PM, August 02, 2016
Updated 10:44 PM, August 02, 2016

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NEOPHYTE SENATOR. Senator Leila de Lima is expected to head the Senate probe into
extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration. File photo by Ben Nabong/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines Senator Leila de Lima is set to deliver a privilige speech

on the rise of extrajudicial killings in the country under the Duterte administration
at 3 pm Tuesday, August 2.
This comes two weeks after the neophyte senator filed a resolution seeking a
Senate probe into the recent spike in the number of drug users and pushers
killed in police operations or through alleged summary executions.
"Extrajudicial or summary killing is homicide. Carried out premeditatedly and in
conspiracy with other public authorities, it becomes mass murder, which, if left
unabated and unchecked, can escalate into crime against humanity under
international law" De Lima, who chairs the Senate committee on justice and
human rights, said in her resolution.

Bookmark this page for more updates. Rappler.com

Filed under:Senateextra judicial killingsprivilige speechLeila de Lima

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Extrajudicial killings
won't win war vs drugs
analyst
'The war against drugs is also a war on poverty,' former Ateneo School of
Government dean Antonio La Via tells Rappler

Katerina Francisco
@kaifrancisco
Published 4:47 PM, July 25, 2016
Updated 5:25 PM, July 25, 2016

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DRUG-RELATED KILLINGS. Filipino funeral workers carry the remains of an alleged drug dealer
who was killed in a shootout with the police, in Manila, Philippines, July 3, 2016. Photo by Mark
Cristino/EPA

MANILA, Philippines Over 300 drug-related killings have been recorded since
President Rodrigo Duterte took office, with some quarters hailing these as proof
of his successful war against drugs.
The anti-drug war was the campaign promise that propelled the popular, toughtalking Davao City mayor to the presidency.
But human rights activists have expressed alarm over the rising body count,
pointing out that many of those killed were only unidentified suspects. For former
Ateneo School of Government dean Antonio La Via, death as punishment for
suspects will not win Duterte's promised war against drugs. (READ: Philippines'
war vs drugs: It has been bloody)

"We all agree that the war on drugs won't be won by extrajudicial killings, or even
death penalty, or even legitimate encounters. The war against drugs is also a war
on poverty, war on powerlessness," La Via said.
He pointed out that several of those killed in the drug war were from the poorer
classes. La Via added that addressing poverty and keeping the peace through
the new administration's planned peace talks and agreements with rebels could
be key to stem the new problem of drug killings. (READ: Drug suspect killings
rise after Duterte victory)
In Mindanao, he said, the ongoing conflict in the troubled southern regions has
only exacerbated poverty. La Via said that peace agreements that guarantee
economic reforms will also help bring down poverty levels.
"If you have less poor in the country, there might be [fewer] extrajudicial killings,"
he said.
For her part, political psychologist Cristina Montiel expressed concern that
Duterte's earlier pronouncements on his campaign promise vowing a bloody
crackdown on drug dealers and pushers did not generate as much alarm, even
with the President saying that he would reward and protect policemen involved in
anti-drug operations.
"It wasn't even considered a crime to say 'We will reward you.' That was a very
strong message coming from the top," Montiel said.
For Montiel, rationalizing extrajudicial killings might have unintended
repercussions. (READ: Duterte's drug war in numbers)
"It's still rationalizing that extrajudicial killings are okay, if these are the objects of
extrajudicial killings. Who knows where that story will go? It can be carried out
dangerously, " she said.
Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug, meanwhile, said Duterte has recast the

country's problem, shifting from the fight against poverty to a crackdown on

drugs.
Duterte is set to hold his first State of the Nation Address on Monday.
Rappler.com
Filed under:Duterte SONAPresident DutertePresident Duterte SONARodrigo DuterteSONA
PhilippinesState of the Nation Addressdrugsextrajudicial killingsSONA 2016

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Dealing with parentjudging

Its human to make assumptions on other parents based on how we see them
act. Parent-judging is harmful not just for the adults, but for the children too

Krista Garcia
@kristamgarcia
Published 12:12 PM, June 22, 2016
Updated 12:12 PM, June 22, 2016

In Partnership with

MANILA, Philippines In a recent Twitter conversation, we asked netizens to

weigh in on the topic of parent-judging.
@rapplerdotcom @tangphilippines I love that this is being discussed and word
being put out there. #NoToParentJudging talaga!!
Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) June 11, 2016

Diff morals,diff parenting styles.But we all want the same for our kids: for them to
be the best version of themselves. #NoToParentJudging
Flower Child (@wildkidinside09) June 11, 2016
@rapplerdotcom remember that letting them eat chocolates, play in the rain and
watch cartoons at times does not make you a bad parent :)
Meg Morteyguh (@jasmortega) June 11, 2016
The conversation, which was conducted in partnership with Tang Philippines,
generated over 207 million impressions and provided some insight on how
Filipinos respond to criticism on their circumstances or parenting styles.
Parents, especially mothers, clearly felt strongly about this issue. Among those
who spoke up about being judged are single parents, and those who juggle work
with family time.
@rapplerdotcom My mom's a single parent, and she's judged for being too tough.
Single parents have to take on both roles. #NoToParentJudging
Firas Abboud (@firas_abboud) June 11, 2016
@rapplerdotcom @kristamgarcia agree! Ive been judged many times for not
being physically present for my kids as much as other parents.
Tootsy Angara (@tootsyangara) June 11, 2016
You may have experienced being judged by others by your relatives, peers, or
even strangers in public places. Or you may have judged another parent who
seems irresponsible or careless.
Its human to make assumptions on other parents based on what we see outside
of the home. But this practice must be stopped. Parent-judging is harmful not just
to adults, but to the children as well.

The social media village

According to Maribel Dionisio, a family and relationship consultant, parentjudging is commenting, criticizing, blaming, or putting down another parent.
Most people do it unconsciously, with the intent of being helpful, but the recipient
may see it as negative or discouraging, Maribel said.
These days, parent-judging doesnt just happen face-to-face. They say it takes a
village to raise a child, and these days, that village has expanded to our virtual
communities.
Marilen Montenegro and Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio are no strangers to parentjudging. At the launch of their new show, Mommy Manual (which they co-host
with Cheska Garcia-Kramer), they shared that they have experienced criticism
when they post about their family online.

DEALING WITH "EXPERTS." Rica Peralejo-Bonifacio said that she tries to understand online
commenters first, before reacting to their posts

It's inescapable, especially when you're living in the age of social media when
everybody is trying to be an expert, even without meaning to, Rica said. But I
know that a lot of these comments are actually well-meaning.

MODERN MAMA. For Marilen Fausto-Montenegro, the Internet was a vital tool for learning and
guidance as well as peer pressure

The Internet is a powerful parenting tool if its used for empowerment instead of
criticism. Its really difficult to be a first-time mom. [You hear about] many
different guidelines, Marilen shared. I would research in the Internet a lot. And
after I research, I form my own convictions and Id stick to that.

Why parents judge other parents

According to Maribel, some instances of parent-judging may be rooted on mere
differences in parenting styles. Some parents believe in an authoritative, strict
approach. Other are more democratic, and treat their children as equals at home.
Some may want to impose their beliefs about parenting on others, she said.
Maribel said that some parents are also more prone to brag about their children
and make negative remarks about other parents, because they want to feel better
about themselves. There are many parents who have low self-worth. Their main
preoccupation or source of joy is their children, Maribel explained.
What some may not realize is that the consequences of parent-judging trickle
down to the children themselves. If the child hears about the comment, it could
have also a negative effect [on him], Maribel said. A lot of parenting is modeling.
Your child is going to imitate you.

How to respond

If youre a parent and you encounter a judger on the street or online, the best
thing to do is to keep calm.
You could say, really? Let me think about that, Maribel advised. Acknowledge
the comment, thank them, and move on.
Maribel added that both the mom and dad should be emotionally mature so they
could affirm and encourage each other. Taking counseling classes could help.

BUILD A STRONG SUPPORT GROUP. Rica said that having good mentors can help parents feel
more confident about themselves

For me, I find it effective to have other couples as our mentors, to have a set of
people whom you can ask for anything under the sun especially when it comes to
your children, Rica said. It lessens the pressure to listen to other voices
because you know in your heart that you have amazing people who will actually
tell you if you are doing the right or wrong thing for your children.

Parenting begins at home

The best way to fight parent-judging is to understand and accept that every
parents approach to parenting is unique.
More than worrying what other people may think, parents must develop a strong
relationship with their children at home.

Spend regular time with your children, said Maribel. Young children respond
positively to attention, so take time to them feel special. If they feel loved and
cared for, theres a very low chance that they will misbehave, she added.

PARENTING BEGINS AT HOME. Maribel said that constant communication is the key to maintaining
a strong relationship with kids

Maintain constant communication with your child. When a child is comfortable

with expressing himself, he will be more open to listen to advice and follow rules.
I really take time to talk or to explain why I want them to obey, what will happen if
they dont obey. I dont believe in just getting mad on the child and saying no.'
They have to understand why, Marilen said.
Ricas advice to other parents is to learn to relax. They say that moms know
best. But at the same time, every mom should know that she is not enough. I can
instill a lot and thats my job to secure it. But I can also trust God more than
myself, that in His wisdom, he has a plan for my child, she said.
According to Maribel, reinforcing positive parenting at home can also inspire
other parents to do the same. Instead of responding negatively to criticism,
parents must learn to encourage and inspire other parents.
Parent-judging is very unhealthy both for the parent receiving it and the parent
giving it. We should stop because children will imitate that. Theres a vicious
negative cycle there. We should move towards the parent mutual admiration
society. Focus on the positive, Maribel concluded. Rappler.com

#NoToParentJudging is Tangs stand to protect the home from hasty judgments. We

believe that what matters most is what happens at home. Join us as we celebrate and
exchange stories about home. #WeAreHomeMade

Visit Tang Philippines on Facebook

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Home >Debates >Extrajudicial killings against criminals in Davao City should be approved or condemned?

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theeternalrival

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Extrajudicial killings against criminals in Davao City should be approved or condemned?

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Con

As Davao City is to be considered as one of the safest places in the

Philippines, and the world; we must not forget about the methods on how
criminals there are being swatted like insects by policemen, and a vigilante
group called the "Davao Death Squad". According to Davao City mayor
Rodrigo Duterte in an interview, "If you are doing an illegal activity in my
city, if you are a criminal or part of a syndicate that preys on the innocent
people of the city, for as long as I am the mayor, you are a legitimate target
of assassination." Even minors, especially when they are roaming in the
streets, are not safe when some men in black riding in motorcycles will try to

shoot them point blank.

On the bright side, despite the criticism from the Commission of Human
Rights, Davao City's crime rate dropped drastically to the point local tourism
organizations gave credit to the city as one of the safest and most peaceful
cities in Southeast Asia. It becomes very advantageous, especially when you
are under captive of a criminal syndicate from a distant place from Davao
(i.e., such as in Quezon City), you could easily trick your captors into
withdrawing the money randsom in a bank there, only for them to get a
taste of their own medicine! That's why Mayor Rody Duterte also insinuated
that criminals can't leave Davao City alive.

(1) http://www.japanfocus.org...
(2) http://www.numbeo.com...
(3) http://www.sunstar.com.ph...
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Pro

I accept the challenge, I believe it should be condemned, in a democratic

country, due process of law should be observed at all times. Only the
convicted should be punished and this acts will just lead to abuses just like
the nazi and marcos who sugar coat their agenda by pretending they are
doing it for order yet commited more crimes in the end
Report this Argument

Con

Your statement does have a point. However, due process of law in the local
government in Davao City has observed frequently. The Dutertes are apart
from that of Marcos' political ideals, citizens in Davao defined Mayor Rodrigo
Duterte as the city's disciplinarian, and the citizens of Davao applauded this
form of criminal punishment; regardless of the criticisms of the Commission
of Human Rights. Policemen arrest suspects when caught; if resisting arrest,
they have no other choice but to use force.
Report this Argument

Pro

alfred311 forfeited this round.

Con

theeternalrival forfeited this round.

Pro

"we must not forget about the methods on how criminals there are being
swatted like insects by policemen, and a vigilante group called the "Davao

Death Squad""

You just mentioned that there is a group called Davao Death Squad in the
province, how is it become due process of law when they are the one who
judged and sentenced the person accused of a crime

"According to Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte in an interview, "If you are
doing an illegal activity in my city, if you are a criminal or part of a syndicate
that preys on the innocent people of the city, for as long as I am the mayor,
you are a legitimate target of assassination."

There are limits to freedom of speech, one of which is threatening someone.

This alone constitute a crime. If you suspect of someone of doing a crime,
you tell them that the full extent of law will catch on them and will not put
the law on you hand

"Even minors, especially when they are roaming in the streets, are not safe
when some men in black riding in motorcycles will try to shoot them point
blank."

shooting someone point blank is due process of law?

For my full argument.

First of all only petty crimes are reported killed by the vigilante group in
Davao. On the other hand, Davao is a safe haven for big time criminals. Ever
heard of a congressman or a senator accused of plundering shot dead in
Davao, of course not because due process of law applies to them. But for
small time drug pushers, thieves and pickpockets are shot down

immediately. One most glaring example is the safe passage of Ampatuans

living in Davao. Many people are aware of their horrendous acts, and yet the
Duterte didnt touch them, Another example is the case of a big time rice
smuggler operating in Davao. Mayor Duterte said that he will kill the guy
and yet the smuggler reigns for so many years without fear from the mayors
death squad. why? Because that is how vigilante justice works, one sided.

Fear is used by hitler and marcos in the name of safety and security, what
happen next is history. You can study other countries that use high crime
rates to push for their personal agenda. Next is taking over the economy for
the benefits of the poor and the list of crimes go on. Study all the country
with a dictator leader or authoritarian form of government, they all have the
same common denominator.

Lastly let me share a quote from Benjamin Franklin for others to reflect on:

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary

Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
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Con

theeternalrival forfeited this round.

Pro

alfred311 forfeited this round.

Con

"Fear is used by hitler and marcos in the name of safety and security, what
happen next is history. You can study other countries that use high crime
rates to push for their personal agenda. Next is taking over the economy for
the benefits of the poor and the list of crimes go on. Study all the country
with a dictator leader or authoritarian form of government, they all have the
same common denominator."

Of course this involves usage of fear. In the case of mayor Duterte, this is
more a Castro-like ideal. Nowadays, many davaoenos seem to praise his
actions, despite the latter being aware of possible consequence of
continuous extrajudicial killings in Davao.

Come to think of it, this is just like in the concept of revenge... according to a
maxim "Revenge is a dish best served cold." Because, outlaws cannot
escape if they terrorize Davao City, and so, they will find themselves at the
mercy of the authorities or even the DDS - something that criminals in and
outside Davao city could not afford to expect. So, they (the policemen of
Davao, DDS, or even Mayor Duterte himself) plan to take justice to their own
hands without relying on due process of law, and anticipate so they can
inflict pain on those who prey on the innocent. Ultimately for them, they
have planned this precisely so they want criminals to suffer terribly, and
Mayor Duterte is not being harmed by the government.
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Pro

I rest my case, you believe fear is the solution for a disciplined society rather
than serving justice to everyone. No country or any province achieved
security by taking the law in their own hands. The Arab spring is a cry for all
people who suffered long enough from their government using fear as a
form of security

Imagine someone kicking your door without warrant of arrest or search

warrant and will accused you of a crime you didn't commit. I just hope you
experience the martial law and the time where Ferdinand Marcos use fear as
a blanket for solving crime, and in the end many innocent people are killed
and the economy suffer.

You are the type of person that will exchange liberty for temporary security,
you didn't know that the root of crimes are mostly poverty, hence the only
solution for these are improving the economy. Go to some exclusive
subdivision vs squatters area, ever wonder why there are few crime from the
former than the latter? You don't need to use fear to lessen crime. Just look
at the top ten country with lowest crime rate. Most of them have a strong
economy, Japan, Switzerland, Ireland, Denmark, Singapore, Luxembourg,
etc. If you still haven't see the correlation then I cannot do anything
anymore to broaden your knowledge.

To conclude, killing someone without due process of law is the worst crime
against humanity. Anyone who gives consent to such are bound to be a
victim themselves.

Report this Argument

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