Duterte: Davao's Dirty Harry and His Brand of Justice

Duterte's brand of justice seems to be getting praises even in the national capital region, a reflection of the people's frustration over the slow pace of justice and anti-crime activities throughout the country. His apparent endorsement of extra-judicial killings (whether he was behind them or not), Davao Death Squad vigilantism and cowboy mentality to keep peace and order in his city seems to win the hearts and minds of many Filipinos. Will these justify the killings of innocent victims, for example, the collateral damage in his war against the lawless elements of society?

At first glance, it seems that Duterte's remarks during the recent senate hearing make more sense than the CHR and the justice secretary's. But be careful what you wish for. If Filipinos allow vigilantism and extra-judicial killings to thrive and go unchecked, they are creating a monster that will bite them back in the future and then the problem of keeping these militia groups in line will be gargantuan. 

Remember the 1980s when Marcos used paramilitary groups to counter the growing threat from communist rebels? The Lost Command in Agusan, Alsa Masa in Davao and Kuratong Baleleng in Misamis are just few of them. The people also heaped praises on them back then. Later, they became uncontrollable and many engaged in criminal activities. Lost Commands all over the country were terrorizing the same areas where they were once praised as heroes by the people years earlier. 

Same thing happened with the New People's Army rebels. Some of us who live and grew up in the rural towns and provincial cities of the Philippines in the 1970s and 1980s had witnessed the kangaroo courts and summary executions by the rebels. At first, the rural folk welcomed them as better alternative to the slow-grinding justice system that favors the rich and powerful when they swiftly punished to death local thieves, crooked government officials, even philandering spouses. Later, members or sympathizers who have ax to grind used the movement to execute their personal vendetta. The people were disillusioned and in fear they might become innocent victims of malicious rumors.

My point is: allowing and even encouraging vigilantism and extra-judicial killings as part of the strategy to combat lawless elements is a two-edge sword that will hurt criminals and innocent bystanders alike and cannot and should not be kept as government policy for the long term.  If Duterte cannot guarantee that there won't be any collateral damage, then he should stop these activities. Nobody is above the law. Even alleged criminals should have their day in court. They are assumed innocent until proven guilty. It is a tedious process and can be frustrating to both law enforcers and the families of victims but it is fair. There are other ways to combat criminality without resorting to extra-judicial killings.