No opposition

The Duterte administration’s statement that the United Nations (UN) is unwelcome to monitor how it conducts its campaign against illegal drugs came days after Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma described as “ill-advised and half-baked” President Rodrigo Duterte’s name and shame campaign against big time-drug lords.

While the United Nations is a lot more concerned about the spate of drug-related killings which are nearing a thousand since July according to the Inquirer’s “Kill List”, Palma is also equally concerned about the naming of incumbent and former officials who are allegedly tied to drug lords without any evidence to show for it.

The latest to join that name and shame club is Sen. Leila De Lima, and she is of particular interest to President Rodrigo Duterte since she went after him for the extrajudicial killings that occurred in Davao City where he ruled for more than two decades.

Both Palma and the United Nations are joined by a growing number of Filipinos who chose not to be swayed by the social media crowd and instead question the validity and the process through which the Duterte administration has chosen to conduct its war on illegal drugs.

In describing as “unwelcome” any attempt by the United Nations and other international groups to monitor the anti-drug campaign, the Palace said such actions are “meddling” of the country’s internal affairs.

“The liberal Western values being imposed upon an Asian nation that places a premium on common good is both insensitive and displays a lack of appreciation for the diversity of global culture,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

While one can argue to death about Western and Asian cultural values, the fact that the Constitution assures the right of due process to every Filipino regardless of social class or other barriers — a right afforded to those big time drug lords who are named and who have surrendered as opposed to those who were cherry picked by the vigilantes to be executed, those who were coincidentally or not identified through Oplan TokHang — meant that the Palace drawing the line on its drug war based on values is not only erroneous but seriously, dangerously flawed.

But then don’t tell that to the President’s face as he himself had not hesitated to show his contempt both for the Church and for the UN whom he criticized for failing to address bigger international disputes.

The President had repeatedly stated time and again that his war on drugs will be relentless and it’s not just about the sheer body count but also the indignity of being branded a drug lord coddler or protector to those who have the misfortune of being included in the drug list.

If the “bleeding heart liberals” haven’t gotten the message by now, then Duterte administration’s outright rejection of UN inquiry into their drug war should leave no room for doubt in their minds that they brook no opposition.