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BY MERIANNE GRACE EREÑETA
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ILOILO City – Ilonggos were not surprised that President Rodrigo Duterte asked for a six-month extension of his campaign against drugs and crimes.
Several locals interviewed by Panay News believe the President’s campaign promise — eradicate or at least suppress drugs and crimes in the Philippines within three to six months — was far from realistic.
“I expected this,” said Paul, a 24-year-old associate at a nongovernment office. “Early on, I believed his promise … was a bluff.”
Duterte is “fond of making exaggerated statements until reality hits him,” he added. “I think his administration should try harder in making sure that human rights are upheld and the rule of law is observed.”
The President asked for the extension in a news conference on Sunday evening.
“Just give me a little extension of maybe another six months. I did not have [an] idea that hundreds of thousands of people [were] already in the drug business,” said Duterte.
“What makes it worse is that they are operated by people in government, especially those in elective positions,” he added.
“Beyond reality” was how Runiel Reel Matorres, a local government officer, described the President’s promise.
“It was clear right from the start that completely wiping out drugs will be a lot harder than anyone can imagine,” he said.
Duterte himself acknowledged that the country is “rocked by so many problems,” so it is only “fitting to look at other equally important things, like the economy, education and health,” said Matorres.
The extension will be “immaterial” if the Philippines’ “internal decorum and international relations” are “compromised,” he said.
Nevertheless, Matorres said Duterte’s programs, as long as done in accordance with the law, must be supported.
Noemie Marie Moralidad, a government employee, believed the President “underestimated the drug menace in our country.”
Moralidad also expressed concern on the violation of rights of the suspects killed and on due process in general.
“The name-and-shame campaign is not even makatao (humane),” she said, referring to Duterte’s calling out of names of suspected drug personalities from lists provided to him by the authorities.
A 20-year-old fresh graduate from the University of the Philippines Visayas, who asked not to be named, believes Duterte will keep asking for extensions as long as the issues associated with drugs exist.
But a political science professor and third-year law student said, technically, “the President does not have only six months to solve this problem but six years.”
“He can use the full force of the law to achieve his goals unless he leaves office [before his term ends],”said Nestor Jeremy Moreno.
On a political standpoint, Duterte’s appeal for an extension gives an impression that he cannot fulfill a campaign promise, said Moreno. “The voters expected him to already have a full grasp of the problem.”/PN
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