The will to kill

ONE DEATH is a tragedy; one million, a statistic.

Thus, Stalin. The victims of his Great Purges and gulags outnumbering the body count in all previous Russian pogroms combined.

I don’t care.

Thus, Duterte. Amid the rising death toll – breaching 800 last week – in his war against illegal drugs that has entered only its second month.

Expect more kills.

Thus, Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de La Rosa as Duterte issued a shoot-to-kill order against elected officials involved in the illegal drug trade.

That’s my order…You will surely die.

Thus, Duterte warning “narcopoliticians,” judges, and police officers he named past midnight into Sunday.

Murder capital. Killing fields.

Thus, the Philippines infamously tagged, primarily in the global media by international human rights organizations.

Back home though, there only obtains an abject lack of public outcry over this utter devaluation of human life. Neither fearful acquiescence nor jaded indifference there but full acceptance, aye, strong approval of it by a nation, seeing it as the final – and only – solution to the drug menace.

Indeed, that long-wished-for political will, ever promised but always undelivered by previous leaders, finding its fulfilment in Duterte’s unbending will – to kill.

Hindi ka puwedeng maging Presidente kung hindi ka marunong pumatay at takot kang mamatay (You cannot be President if you don’t know how to kill and are afraid to die).

Thus, Duterte delivering on his campaign promise. To the letter.

The dregs of humanity deserve to die.

Thus, netizens at just about every report of cardboard justice served.

The scums are wasted, all cheers to the Punisher. Judge, jury and executioner all in one, no matter.

Still…  

When tears are replaced by wide smiles each time a human is killed, I shake my head and ask, ‘What has happened to humanity?’ Can we still cry with those who cry?

Thus, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

“From a generation of drug addicts, shall we become a generation of street murderers? [Can] the do-it-yourself justice system assure us of a safer and better future?”

Thus, pour out of his heart the primate’s lamentations.

There is a little voice of humanity in us that I believe is disturbed by the killings; but that voice of disturbed humanity is drowned out by the louder voice of revenge or silenced by the sweet privileges of political clout.

I am a human being. That is all it takes for me to stand up and say, ‘Enough.’

So, when is enough…well, enough?

We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered.

Thus, Duterte, resolute, unswerving, unwavering. Now, were the surrendering more than the killing. And the innocent spared from the dying.

Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Thus, John Donne.

An alarum for you and me.