The Philippine PEN statement

From Shirley O. Lua's post on Facebook, August 21 2017.

Justice for Kian Lloyd de los Santos and other victims of ‘genocidal’ anti-drug campaign The Philippine Center of the International PEN (Poets & Playwrights, Essayists, Novelists), the Philippine branch of the worldwide association of writers that includes Nobel laureates and Peace Prize recipients as well as Ramon Magsaysay Award honorees, condemns the brutal killing of 17-year-old Kian Lloyd de los Santos by the Philippine National Police (PNP) operatives carrying out the anti-drug campaign of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. The killing is just the latest in the mounting number of killings that have been explained away by the Duterte administration and the PNP as either “drug-related” or worse, “collateral damage.” PNP operatives involved in the incident should be investigated in an impartial, independent probe and brought to justice. Congress should junk the bill seeking a higher budget for the PNP’s anti-drug campaign in the proposed 2018 General Appropriations Act. Urging the Duterte Administration to cease its genocidal anti-drug campaign, the Philippine PEN is making a restatement of its Resolution during its 2016 National Congress, to wit: “The Philippine PEN Congress of November 22, 2016: “• Expresses grave concern over the mounting number of killings under the anti-drug campaign of the government of President Rodrigo Duterte. While the Philippine PEN has always supported any drive against illegal drug trafficking, it is alarmed by the killings—now numbering more than 4,000—allegedly carried out by vigilante groups that the Philippine National Police and anti-drug authorities seem not in a particular hurry to stop, much less bring to justice. “It is likewise alarmed that the political rhetoric of President Duterte and his government seem to abet and even encourage such killings. The rhetoric has had a chilling effect on the people, including journalists, writers, artists, and educators, who are opposed to drug trafficking but expect police campaigns to follow lawful procedures. “The PEN believes that the rhetoric betrays an attitude that disregards basic principles of law and justice and engenders an extra-judicial mindset among law enforcers and even the public. The mindset indicates a course of action that makes short shrift of the law and blurs distinctions between pusher and user, criminal and victim. The PEN urges the Duterte administration to come clean on the issue and affirm its fidelity to the rule of law and due process. “The PEN condemns strongly the summary execution of drug suspects. It urges the Duterte government to cease all punitive actions against drug suspects and to consider the recommendation of the United Nations Global Commission on Drug Policy for UN members to decriminalize drug addiction and to consider it as a health problem.”

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