PHL embassy protests Washington Post story on killings

The Philippine Embassy in the US on Tuesday protested a Wahington Post story on the killings in Manila, saying it "seeks to discredit the Philippines in the eyes of the international community."

"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," the embassy said in a statement.

"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 story centers on the unsolved killing of a 44-year-old jobless Filipino man in Tondo whose body was found floating under a bridge on January 14.

"His is a portrait of one more life broken — and one more death left unexplained — in a city with many such stories," the Washington Post article said.

"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," it continued.

"Since President Rodrigo Duterte rose to power more than two years ago, the death toll from his war on drugs has kept climbing. Authorities report that more than 5,000 'drug personalities' have been killed in police operations around the country," it added.

Contrary to what its title hopes to provoke, the embassy said "the article paints a picture not of Manila, but of a hasty generalization that has no foundation in reality."

"Unsurprisingly, the article fails to mention that majority of the Filipino people continue to back their government in the fight against illegal drugs," the embassy said, citing the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations that showed 8 in 10 Filipinos are satisfied with the fovernment’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.

It also cited a Pulse Asia survey showing public support for the campaign at 77% among Metro Manila residents.

"Reduced criminality is a major driver of public support," the embassy said.

According to the Philippine National Police, total crime volume has gone down from 675,816 in 2015 to 473,068 in 2018, or a total decrease of 30%, the embassy noted.

Erring police personnel were likewise meted disciplinary penalties, including dismissal from service, demotion, suspension, forfeiture of salary, reprimand, restriction and withholding of privileges, the embassy said.

"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 said.

"We will continue to engage in sincere, constructive, and evidence-based dialogue with our international partners in the pursuit of common goals and mutual interests," it added.

The United States - a close ally of the Philippines - along with the United Nations and the European Union - has repeatedly expressed concern on the wave of killings of drug suspects since President Rodrigo Duterte came into power on June 30, 2016.

While they support the country’s campaign against illegal drugs, the EU, the United Nations and the US maintained that due process and human rights must be observed by Philippine authorities in carrying out its operations.

Such position did not sit well with Duterte, who served as prosecutor, lawmaker and Davao City Mayor for 22 years and supports vigilante-style killings against supposed criminals in his city.

The tough-talking Philippine leader likened to US President Donald Trump for his use of vulgar language, populist remarks and his anti-establishment statements accused his critics of interfering in the country’s domestic affairs. — MDM, GMA News