The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has always advocated for a holistic, multi-sectoral, and human rights-based approach in genuinely tackling the root causes of the drug problem in the country. As such, we express hope in the new “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” or BIDA program, which seeks to combat the drug problem through demand reduction and rehabilitation of persons who use drugs.
We acknowledge the expression of the commitment of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr. to implement the new campaign “within the framework of the law and with respect for human rights and with focus on rehabilitation and socio-economic development.”
It is worth citing that the approach endeavors to capture the principle of restorative justice. Through faithful adoption of rights-based perspectives, this approach can help ensure the physical, psychological, and social capability of persons who use drugs, thus reducing their propensity to resort to drugs in coping with problems and life challenges.
The BIDA program is said to involve local governments, national government agencies, and other sectors. Apart from the drug enforcement agencies, such as the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is expected to help in rehabilitation interventions; the Department of Trade and Industry will help in livelihood programmes; while the Department of Labor and Employment can assist in finding job opportunities.
CHR hopes that the DILG commitment will similarly include the adoption of our previous recommendation on drug treatment and recovery. Specifically, we cite the 2015 consensus in the East and Southeast Asia Region, alongside the joint statements from the United Nations in March 2012 and June 2020, which call for investment in voluntary community-based approaches. This means individuals who use drugs should give full consent and voluntarily agree to the rehabilitation program instead of getting admitted to compulsory or mandatory treatment centers.
The acceptability and quality of intended interventions must also be ascertained to ensure compliance with standards in upholding the right to health. This includes access to voluntary and evidence-based services in treating drug use as a health condition. Similarly, the use of a watch list must be eliminated as this entails surveillance, which negates the right to due process and the right to privacy and confidentiality.
CHR equally expects faithful implementation and rights-based adherence on the ground. Thus, we echo the clamor of concerned civil society groups about the need to re-orient and retrain police personnel toward preventing any form of abuse and violation.
Genuine reform and policy shift also necessitate ascertaining accountability of all perpetrators, including police personnel and liable officials, who are allegedly involved in killings related to the drug campaign in the previous and current administrations. Parallel, sustained efforts in resolving the thousands of drug-related killings will demonstrate the government’s seriousness in giving justice to victims and curbing impunity. Our call to investigate and seek accountability continues for all alleged killings and human rights violations, including those linked to the past drug campaign.