Human Rights Advocates Tipping The Scale On One Side

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The chaos of the martial law under President Marcos puts everyone inside a tunnel. Political foes and insurgents with so much trauma hardly see the light of day. Those decades of political oppressions left a scar so deep to the victims of oppressions, they have no other way but to look at it and run their fingers through it every single minute of their life and moving on from the past becomes impossible.

I can't blame them. Especially those who were then students, whose only platform was to carry placards and march on the streets to air their political views and grievances. Rallyists, demonstors, these are old tactics that may work or fail and it causes violence to erupt in magnitudes producing rebellions that caused so many lives lost. The Marcos regime was clearly silencing dissidents in massive degree where massacres were documented. This was martial in the minds of the many victims.

When people power drove the Marcoses out of power, Cory Aquino, whom the people placed on the pedestal to lead the perceived democratic country back to freedom, tipped the scale on one side making freedom so loose even criminals and bad elements were on rampage and get off scot-free. The new order of democracy and freedom was emblemmed on the next generations after Martial Law adhered to by all presidents that followed; people's power.

When was it when I came home for a homecoming when youth roam free even if they have committed heinous crimes and the police did nothing at all? I have to ask and I need to ask why these juveniles are not thrown in jail? The answer was quick from the locals, and it was because of  the law that passed and I guessed drafted by Kiko Pangilinan,  that prohibits imprisonment of minors. The police were also handcuffed on their own because the Human Rights Advocates will pounce on them for perceived wrongdoings. The police rather not do anything to risk their jobs.

Human Rights Advocates are necessary to protect the rights of the victims..."VICTIMS." One time the chief of police in our town was ambushed, riddled by bullets. The culprits were then killed by arresting police in a resort in a nearby town. The Human Rights Advocates were there to ensure that the police did not err in killing the evident perpetrators of the crime. Human Rights, ensuring the criminals' rights were not violated. A manifestation that the police were enemies of the people? The Martial Law effect? Whom they killed? A chief of police....Whose human rights are in questioned here?

Are we not brainless? Are these Human Rights Advocates do clearly understand the word "victim" and clearly knowing who they are between being wronged and between being the aggressor. If we do not have the unbiased conscience on implementing our advocacy, stop, because now you are championing the wrong people.

Why is the fight against drugs become so messy and bloody? Because the components of corruption by police which the government is trying to curb and the elements of criminality are there. Human rights should not be a one trajectory bullet addressed to the government of Duterte in its desire to stop drugs on victimizing its citizens. Illegal drugs are a menace to society. Lives of innocent people, young or old, are victimized by the proliferation of drugs. These out of control drug problem is also a part of human rights issues, not just the killings. Did any human rights groups yank their tongue out to denounce drugs and help its people? If not, then be silent now and let the good cleanse the bad no matter how ugly.

And my question is, how did these drug problems get this far? Anything that destroys a society is a human rights issue. We need to broaden that description of this form of Advocacy. We do not just come around and condemn the death of an individual, who most of them, were found with drug paraphernalias and guns in their possessions. Human rights include those victims of drug addictions, people whose futures are in limbo because none of the institutions who are hypocrites, really work hard to condemn drug addiction in the country.

Human rights Advocates need to redo their manuals to clearly redefine the true meaning of the word "Victims." Because it will not be just about killings. It also includes other forms of atrocities inflicted to humanity in various forms. 

Yes, let me quote my own kind of Advocacy without the International Criminal Court to interfere- 'VICTIMS RIGHTS ADVOCACY" start it in the smallest fabric of society, the family and community in your neighbourhood. Make it local. Start from the community. Build it with the best leaders a community can get. It's a new kind of human rights advocacy that is in line with the present government from the very people affected by this menace; drugs and corruption.