US clarifies drug war stand as claimed by Palace

By Arjay L. Balinbin
Reporter
THE government of the United States remains concerned about the human rights situation in the Philippines amid President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s drug war, a US Embassy press attache said over the weekend when sought for comment.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo announced in a press briefing last week that US Ambassador Sung Y. Kim and the US-Philippines Society, a bilateral organization based in Washington, D.C., had met with Mr. Duterte at Malacañang on Feb. 20.
The meeting, according to Mr. Panelo, centered on the administration’s drug war. “The US Ambassador said that the US government supports the fight against drugs,” he said.
Asked for more details about the meeting, Trude Raizen, acting press attache at the US Embassy in Manila, said via e-mail on Saturday, Feb. 23: “We have privately discussed our concerns with the prosecution of the drug war directly with the Philippine government, and we will continue to do so. We remain committed to human rights protection around the world.”
She added that both parties “discussed a range of bilateral, regional, and international issues of concern to the United States and the Philippines.”
The US, she also said, “faces its own challenge with illicit drugs, and we want to work together to end drug trafficking and support those with substance use disorders in accordance with international human rights standards.”
“We remain dedicated to working with the Philippine government to strengthen the criminal justice system, counter transnational crime, improve respect for human rights, and reduce drug demand through prevention, treatment, and recovery programs,” she explained.
Ms. Raizen said further that the US government supports the efforts of the Philippine government “to counter the harmful effects of illicit drug trafficking through our assistance programs with police, prosecutors, and judges to prevent, investigate, and successfully prosecute transnational crimes.”
Mr. Duterte instructed the police last week to step up its operations against drug trafficking in the country. “I’m declaring war and I’ve raised it to the level of a national security [threat],” he said in a media interview on Feb. 20. “Destroy my country and I will kill you,” he added.
“I’m just reiterating my warning here that this drug problem is a national security threat. Meaning to say it can destroy the Philippines. And the order is: destroy the enemy.”
In a statement on Feb. 22, Commission on Human Rights Spokesperson Jacqueline C. de Guia said: “Since the start of the campaign against illegal drugs, the Commission has expressed its support for it but repeatedly denounced the methods used. We recognize the need to address the drug problem and if the methods need to be harsh, we will not question it for as long as it is in accordance with the rule of law and does not result to loss of lives.”
“While the President’s ‘harsher drug war’ remark might be intended to forewarn those who are into the business of doing drugs, threatening to kill can be interpreted as a directive and embolden state agents to dismiss due process,” she also said.