The killing of a 12-year-old girl

The recent killing of a 12-year-old girl in Toledo City should remind us of the necessity of instilling fear in the hearts of criminals. The method with which she was killed was unimaginable and gruesome.

The suspect is a relative and known to have criminal records.

The killing reminds us of the importance of keeping a close watch on our children and to never entrust them to anyone; sadly, even to our relatives, and particularly those with criminal records. Drug addicts are everywhere, and since government has chosen to treat them with kid gloves, it is now imperative that we take extra care of ourselves and our loved ones.

We must also be mindful whether any member of the family is into illegal drugs before things get too late. A strong family bond is indispensable in creating a harmonious home.

There is an epidemic of loneliness, and people seek distraction instead of confronting it. Unfortunately, when families fail to fill the gap, many seek to fill it outside the home.

Therefore, parents should start to reexamine their priorities. No success could ever compensate failure at home. Being busy should not be an excuse. A busy person has a time for everything that matters. What’s killing relationships is our obsession with our work, our chase of wealth.

But let me quickly say that even families have limits. Running after drug syndicates can be done effectively by the government if it is determined to do so.

We once again call upon our government authorities to deal a swift blow to the drug menace. The Filipino people are desperately waiting for our government to take a decisive action, for thousands of victims of drug-related crimes should not be treated as mere statistics to be forgotten.

No wonder a big chunk of our population continues to yearn for the days that a Duterte-like leadership would come.

Critics of the Dutertes hope that the trial at the International Criminal Court will change how people regard him and weaken their undying loyalty. They believe that eventually the die-hards would turn their backs on the Dutertes.

The contrary is true. Over the years, similar statements and so-called evidence have been played and hyped ad infinitum. Do you really think that the Filipinos changed their minds about the Dutertes when the names of Albuera Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. were presented as among those killed in the drug war?

The people want peace and they want the drug problem significantly curbed, if not ended.

FPRRD’s statements about going after criminals have been replayed many times. It makes no difference that they are replayed at the ICC. All that the Filipinos remember is that during the administration of their “Tatay Digong” there was real peace and order.

That it still baffles the enemies of the Dutertes why Filipinos supported the drug war speaks of their disconnection from the masses.

The Marcos administration is already on its fourth year, yet its accomplishments in addressing illegal drugs have been dismal. Its so called bloodless war on drugs produces nothing but the proliferation of drugs everywhere. Ask the common man on the street and he will tell you the truth.

Criticisms of Duterte’s drug war have been raised many times, but his critics have not presented an alternative that actually works.

This is why killings, such as the killing of a 12-year-old girl in Toledo City, continue to send chills down the collective spine of the Filipino people. They are looking for a leader --a brave one.