Before President Rodrigo Roa Duterte rose into power, he cracked a joke during the campaign period, “If I win, better put up more funeral parlors” (The Philippines Star, November 27, 2015).
While the statement must be interpreted as a joke by good-abiding civilians, it is definitely a threat against criminals especially those involving illegal drugs. President Duterte then bravely threw words such as “My first months will be bloody” (Inquirer April 2, 2015). Such is the degree of seriousness of the drug problem in the Philippines that it needs “blood cleansing” is required to stop it from from destroying the country’s population.
However, since from the start of the war against drugs, the Duterte administration has been accused of sponsoring the so called “Extra-judicial Killings” or EJK. Oplan Tokhang has been heavily criticized as if it is a license for policemen for killing criminals without mercy. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said in defense that if drug perpetrators die during operations, it is because they resisted. In addition, masked assassins are hired by drug syndicates to avoid leaking further information regarding the network of syndicates.
One thing is sure though — these days are dangerous times especially for those working in the underground market. St. Francis Memorial Homes is definitely not jubilant about it. Although death is essential to our mortuary business, we should say it once that we are not happy if people die in vain. We treat every dead person as our family — not economic opportunities like some people assume.
Like President Duterte, we take no honor to EJK (Rappler January 20, 2016). We want people to live a good life. Using illegal drugs is taking a the wrong path. They destroy the not only the life of the user, but also those around him/her. That’s why, we at St. Francis Memorial Homes take a stand in support to the administration’s war against illegal drugs.
Follow the law. Say no to drugs. Save your life before it is too late. Otherwise, we will take care of you.