Lopez urges critics to make ‘fair’ judgment of war on drugs

Jee Y. Geronimo

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Lopez urges critics to make ‘fair’ judgment of war on drugs
Environment Secretary Gina Lopez says those opposed to the bloody campaign should 'go to the person's heart' – referring to President Rodrigo Duterte – and see where he's coming from, before passing judgment

MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, who herself is waging a war against those who violate environmental laws, said there may be value in President Rodrigo Duterte‘s “strong approach” against drugs.

“I think he sees it as a war. And I don’t know, he seems to be winning the war. He’s doing really well, and maybe you gauge it. So maybe he’s killed some and put out a message, and how many lives has he saved for now and in the future? And you decide: was it worth it or was it worth it?” Lopez said in a recent Rappler Talk interview.

Lopez weighed in on the number of killings that have happened since the new administration declared its all-out war on drugs.

The crackdown on drugs has so far seen hundreds of alleged drug suspects killed in police operations, and the surrender of over 120,000 drug addicts.

“I think this is how he’s thinking. This is just how I see it. I think you know when you have a war…and when you’re [in] a war, you shoot, you kill. You want to win the war because you’re fighting for the life of your people, for [their] betterment.”

She thinks Duterte is determined not to let drug lords who “only [think] about the money they have” win. (READ: What drives Gina Lopez?)

“The only way to fight that enemy is to kill them. And you know, what’s happening, is by making a few examples at killing the enemy. I don’t know, I think like 10,000 or 12,000 drug lords have surrendered. Maybe – and I’m not making any judgement call or whatever – just maybe, maybe there is a value of taking the strong approach and showing you mean business,” she said.

Several groups and even lawmakers have already called on the President to put a stop to the drug-related killings.

But Lopez urged critics to do what according to her is the fair and right thing: To “go to the person’s heart,” see where he’s coming from, before passing judgment.

“And maybe the sacrifice of two or 3 – but hey, if you get rid of drugs and all these drug lords, you stop making money in the Philippines, and killing our youth, then you can measure: it’s either the lives or welfare of thousands of youth, or two or 3 or whatever, how many drug lords that have been killed, then you measure, and then you see,” she said.

Duterte this week acknowledged the occurrence of extrajudicial killings linked with his war on drugs and expressed his intention to investigate them. 

Sigurado ako may sinalvage, sigurado ako diyan, and we will investigate (I am sure there are salvage victims, I am sure of that, and we will investigate),” he said on Thursday, August 4, during an environment summit in Davao City which he attended with Lopez. 

Lopez herself is leading her department’s campaign against mining companies that violate environmental laws.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has already suspended at least 6 firms since the ongoing audit on all existing mines in the country began in July. Rappler.com

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Jee Y. Geronimo

Jee is part of Rappler's Central Desk, handling most of the world, science, and environment stories on the site. She enjoys listening to podcasts and K-pop, watching Asian dramas, and running long distances. She hopes to visit Israel someday to retrace the steps of her Savior.