9/10/18 Ethics in the News #1

Philippines: Duterte’s ‘Drug War’ Claims 12,000 + Lives: An Ethical Analysis

Qualifying ethicality:

The ethical issue at hand lies within whether or not it is acceptable for the Filipino government to kill those addicted to drugs in an effort to “cleanse” the population of “dependables” and (ostensibly) make communities safer.

Right vs Right or Right vs Wrong:

In my view, this issue is a Right vs. Wrong scenario. Drug addiction is an illness, and killing people out of convenience is always morally wrong. Not to mention, Duterte and his administration aren’t even attempting to combat the real issues behind widespread drug dependence and sale. Murdering people because they can not only gives way to total autocracy, it doesn’t solve the problem.

Dilemma:

Mercy vs. Justice: Duterte would argue that, in killing drug addicts, he is serving justice. While that is kind of a skewed view of “justice,” its antipode “mercy” should be employed instead.

Individual vs. Community: Duterte would also probably argue that his killings are benefiting the community at the expense of the individual.

Short term vs. Long term: In the short term, the Philippines might have less addicts. In the long term, though, the root cause of these peoples’ addiction doesn’t go away.

Analysis:

In this article, which initially detailed the drug-related killings that President Duterte and his men have been carrying out for the past few years, eventually broadened to include the plethora of atrocities taking place under the current Filipino administration. After reading the article in its entirety, it was made pretty clear to me that many of Duterte’s policies are leading the Philippines farther and farther from democracy and closer and closer to autocracy and dictatorship. What is especially concerning, however, is the Filipino peoples’ tacit (at least, if not explicit) acceptance of Duterte’s draconian legislation.  Duterte has employed the Philippine National Police to help him fight his anti-drug campaign, even encouraging police to shoot protesters and other objectors if police find them difficult to deal with. There has been specific concern, too, about the murders of left-wing journalists from across Asia with hopes of reporting on and denouncing Duterte’s campaign. I find this especially noteworthy, as it is often the case in rising autocracies that wanna-be dictators try and suppress freedom of speech at all costs. Duterte’s cruel tactics seem especially misplaced when the Filipino HIV/AIDS epidemic is taken into account. The Filipino government has hardly responded well to the crisis, choosing instead to allocate funds towards ever crueler and more immoral exploits.

URL: https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/01/18/philippines-dutertes-drug-war-claims-12000-lives