In The News

War against drugs: The path that seems right

by jay supetran
11/04/16
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

 Most of the Filipinos feel helpless as the number of drug dependents and the statistics of drug related criminality increased. The feeling of helplessness was so pervasive that during the May 2016 elections, when a presidential candidate campaigned with the platform that he will address the drug problem by killing people in the drug trade, he handily won.  He envisioned the waters of Manila Bay turning red with the blood of slain drug dealers.  As of the first week of November 2016, the tally was more than 4,000 dead, killed by the police in supposedly official operations and government advocated extra-judicial killings by vigilantes. People applauded and created a perception that the streets are safe again.  Support to the initiative grew and resulted in the boost to the popularity rating of the president.

 Killing is not the answer, more so if the killing was done outside the ambit of the law and merely based on suspicion. The death penalty was repealed decades ago, and killings were justified by saying the suspects resisted arrest and fought with apprehending policemen. Some lawmakers are now moving to reinstate the death penalty as part of the war against drugs. As the killings continue, the collateral damage is gradually being felt as innocent bystanders are killed in the process, some were results of mistaken identity.

 The sad part was the tacit approval of many Christians on what is happening. Facebook and other social media platforms are full of messages of support on the drug war and the extra-judicial killings. No words of compassion toward the victims of killings.  The command of Jesus to love one another was lost, overridden by the thought that killing is justified to rid the world of the drug menace. Christians are supposed to love the sinners and hate the sin, and we have the life of Jesus as an example of how to love our enemies.  But blinded by hatred, there are Christians among us who are falling for the quick fix to get rid of ‘evil’ in our midst.   

 The promise of safe streets appeal to our sense of protection and the feeling of safety, despite the fact that the world is never safe. We will only be safe if we are under the protective covering of God. Like a mother hen sheltering her chicks, Psalms 91:4 states, ‘He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.’ There is nothing to worry if we believe God is with us. Like the psalmist, our comfort in this dangerous world is summarized in Psalms 23:4, ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’

 Instead of worrying about our safety, the people of God should pray for the safety of those who are targeted for elimination.