Pubdate: Tue, 09 Aug 2016
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2016 Star Tribune
Contact:  http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: Lily Chua O'Connor

TACTICS TARGETED BY EDITORIALISTS, BUT ARE WHAT THE PEOPLE WANTED

In its Aug. 8 Short Takes space, the Star Tribune reprinted an 
editorial from the Washington Post condemning the new Philippine 
President Rodrigo Duterte and his war on drugs, which includes 
extrajudicial killings of drug lords and pushers ("The Philippines' 
drug war: Homicidal justice kills the rule of law"). What the editors 
don't know is that Duterte is the first president in my lifetime (and 
I am 65) who cannot be bought. I personally know a rich businessman 
who had bet on the wrong horse for president. The day after election, 
he flew to Davao City (where Duterte lives) with a bag full of cash. 
He waited one whole day and couldn't get in to see Duterte.

All of these human-rights activists condemning the extrajudicial 
killings do not know the situation in the Philippines. Duterte won 
the election with a wide margin in a three-way race. The Roman 
Catholic Church (the Philippines is 86 percent Catholic) supported 
his opponent, who also was supported by the then-current president. 
Duterte ran on the promise to get rid of the drug lords in the way he 
did in Davao City. And he is doing exactly what he promised. That is 
democracy in action.

Lily Chua O'Connor, Edima
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom