EDITORIAL - A change in attitude

According to a survey carried out by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), more Filipinos are now supporting the ongoing investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the previous administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

A report in Philstar.com said a survey conducted by SWS from December 8 to 11 found that 53% of the respondents support the statement: “The ICC should investigate drug-related killings during the Duterte administration.”

The same survey also had 57% of respondents agreeing that the Philippine government should allow the ICC to investigate the drug-related killings.

This isn’t really surprising. There were more than a few questionable killings during the previous administration’s purported “war on drugs” that many said was more of a “war against the poor”. Only the small fish were targeted while the drug lords were left largely untouched, with many still continuing to operate until today.

There were just too many operations that ended up in questionable killings, too many incidents of “nanlaban” and too few resolutions of such claims.

While the case of Kian delos Santos, Carlo Arnaiz, and a few others may see justice, many more families of people who ended up dead when they didn’t have to are still waiting for the same.

And while our country does indeed have a working justice system, it seems that people in power are rarely, if ever, held to account for their actions. Which is why many people see the necessity for the ICC to intervene and for the government to allow this to happen.

Of course, survey results do not immediately translate into action from the government. However, it is a good thing to know that some people are now thinking differently. Perhaps it is because some people are no longer in positions of power why others feel less threatened.

This small change in opinion may even snowball into something bigger.

Leaving those killings unresolved will cause a generational trauma not really unlike the one caused by involuntary disappearances experienced under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.