Davao Death Squad
August 4th, 2004 at 8:43 am (Davao City)
For years, the government’s mantra against illegal drugs has been “Save the user, jail the pusher.” This is, supposedly, a proactive way of eliminating the illegal drugs trade. On August 2, 2004, the Mindanao Times, in its latest tally, has counted 52 summary killings by the so-called Davao Death Squad, a local vigilante group, who guns down alleged drug users and pushers. So far, there has been a recurring outcry regarding these summary killings from human rights groups but no real plan to stop it from the side of the government.
Although the supposed “mission” of the group is laudable, their means of doing it, is just not justifiable. Do these people really believe that through these summary killings, illegal drug users will stop their addiction? More often than not, drug abusers do not value their wasted enough. Threatening them with death, will probably have no effect on them whatsoever. Drug users are to be saved, not eliminated.
Moreover, most of those who were already killed are the so-called “small fish” drug pushers. Does anyone actually believe that these people who walk down the streets of Davao City have enough money to manufacture illegal drugs? These people, I daresay, are usually the victims. Victims of poverty driven into the illegal drugs trade. They are mere “runners” and distributors. Killing them would actually do no harm on the people who fund these illegal businesses.
Majority of Davaoeños have kept mum on the issue although they feel strongly against it. Maybe because they fear for their own lives. While some others do not feel that it is something they should worry about. Lives are being taken because of unproven allegations. The justice system is being undermined, the local government is paralyzed, and more importantly, the name and image of Davao City is being tainted. Do we really want to belong in a community which keeps its silence while a great injustice is being carried out? Do we want other people to stand by, watch and observe in silence while out fathers, brothers, cousins and friends are gunned down one by one instead of being offered help? Are we to be silent participants to the continued concealment of big time drug pushers, while their hired “runners” and distributors are gunned down one by one?
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whatever!!!! said,
March 17, 2006 at 7:58 pm
death to all drug pushers!!!!!
god's will be,.. said,
May 14, 2006 at 8:03 pm
killing to those people is not good solution,..those people are poor and sick,.. and some of them their forcing there self to do drug trafficking,.. where is the freedom in davao,…
kida said,
August 23, 2006 at 2:26 am
damn those drug pushers!!!!!
Kill them All!!!!
I HAIL our mayor Rodrigo Duterte!!!!
jdespaldon said,
August 23, 2006 at 8:15 am
Are we sure that those killed were really drug pushers?
francispogi said,
November 12, 2006 at 4:14 am
yes assclown..those who were killed were either drug pushers or users, or had something to do with cry..i’m PRO for DDS..kaya nga tahimik ang davao sity eh..even if the mayor(R.Duterte) had something or nothing to do with it..i’m still PRO-DDS..dapat pati d2 sa manila or lahat ng province may ganun..ultimo snatcher pinapatay nila..para matakot ang mga tao na gumawa ng masama..one more thing na nakakinis pag naririnig ko..people always blame it on poverty..we’re not supposed to blame it on poverty,wag natin isisi sa kahirapan or sa government ang nangyayari sa buhay natin..the reason why we are like this or bakit ka naghihirap ngayon is because you chose to….don’t blame the situation on someone else..you are what you chose to be..life is simple..you make choices and no turning back!!kaya madaming mahirap dahil tamad cla..di ako mayaman,naghirap din ako pero i did something about it and changed my life..punta ka skwater ngaon?sigwa ka cno gusto yumaman?lahat fior sure gusto..pero tanungin mo anong ginagawa buong araw?wala gumagawa ng bata or nanunuod,sugal..bat di magisip ng paraan kung pano guminhawa..imbis na manuod pinapayaman lang nila mga artista…make a way..whew!!un lang poh
Mang Kiko said,
November 27, 2006 at 11:48 pm
Minsan nakakalimutan natin na ang ating karapatan sa ating Konstitusyon na “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law”. Bakit hindi todasin ni Duterte ang mga Drug Lords, di lang yung mga pushers at users. Ayaw niya kasi baka tamaan si la Gloria dahil nasa likuran si FG sa shabu substance importation. Patas dapat ang laban.
Patayan kung patayan pero lahat patayin “Maging Sino Ka Man!”
mysterywoman said,
January 15, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Davao Death Squad has a pros and cons.Looking at the positive side, it is advantageous to the people because it reduces the glaring notoriety within Davao City. There is a less crime compare to other cities, say, in a squatter area crime is very rampant, due to DDS snatching and holdapping was reduced. But on the other side of a coin, there is an unjust killing due to mistaken identity.
wakokok said,
January 25, 2007 at 2:22 am
WHY they hae no numbers of users in davao
badger said,
January 29, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Huwag nang bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga adik na yan!!! Peste lang sila ng lipunaN!!! Dagdag problema pa sa pamahalaan!!!
Twinkle said,
January 30, 2007 at 12:22 am
We need to be very vocal against these criminals. I am happy that Davao was led by a Mayor who’s always been so vocal regarding the advocacy. Yet, it is so true that we can never fight crimes with passion, so it would be better to use an iron fist. Given that you abide with the laws, then why worry?
hoodwink said,
February 6, 2007 at 11:45 pm
it’s unfair! and unjust to the poor! why not target those sons and daughters of the upper-class families?Whoa! they have more access to drugs compare to the poor youths.DDS MUST BE FAIR ENOUGH!
fritz said,
March 11, 2007 at 8:20 am
sa dalawang beses na pag-uwi ko ng pilipinas, sa davao city talaga ako bilib, kasi kahit madaling araw na pwede pa rin tayong gumala sa syudad na hindi takot may mang-gulpi, mang-holdap, mang-snatch. kaya recomendado ko sa mga katrabaho ko na bisitahin din ang DAVAO CITY.
may magandang hotels, may airport, access sa public transport, telecommunication. higit sa lahat SAFE. salamat sa city government at police. at sa mga taong may malasakit at pagmamahal sa davao city. THANK YOU!
jobads said,
April 13, 2007 at 7:16 am
maganda ang daavao safe tayo dun pero kung bad ka wag ka ng pumnta ng davao may kalalagyan ka malinis ang paligid at ban pa ang smoking sa public,at msarap ang mga seafood dun mura pa di ko pagpalit ang davao sa lugar ng pilipinas
Juan said,
May 22, 2007 at 4:31 am
hahahaha, nindot2x, the real attraction of davao city is the mayor itself., the power balance created by Mr. Duterte, Rodrigo is in fact flawless, Human Rights isn’t an issue after all., why do you think 13 yrs old is still a child., they are considered grown ups., they are aware of their actions, 12 yrs of exception must be enough., 13 is a deadline., and a deadline is really a deadline., don’t worry even if Mr. Duterte, Rodrigo will be gone the hearts and minds of davaoenos will be vigilant enough to follow the tradition in obtaining peace thru a bloody hands, and by the way some DDS aren’t hired some of them are only vigilant enough to help mold of the peace in mind., That is all Good day
davao outsourcing said,
July 24, 2007 at 1:59 am
It is a reminder for those people who engage in drugs that they will be aware for the action implemented by the Davao government against them. SO WATCH OUT!
jerry pacman said,
October 27, 2007 at 2:58 am
ang kitid pala ng mayor nyo? pano kung nagmamarijuana kalang? eh execution kaagad? o nagtutulak ng marijuana , sabagay ka zodiac sign pala ni duterte si Hitler kaya pala ang lakas ng loob pumatay. buti nalang sa manila open kami tulad sa marijuana .tsaka baket panay 12 to 17 years old ang nagtutulak ang namamatay? baget ang bobo pala ng mayor nyo? hinde nyo mapuksa kung san nagagaling ang mga drugs o sino mastermind, madungis ang davao. may lamat na kayo sa tingin ng tao.
http://www.preda.org/archives/davao/dds.html
check nyo to pala makita nyo gaano kadungis davao, buti nalang dito sa maynila kahit pa sa sagada, baguio quezon o batangas,cebu walang ganyan karumal dumal na krimen
protacio rizal said,
December 6, 2007 at 5:48 pm
The problem is not only Duterte. The problem are the davawenos who think that DDS is good for them
John Kramer said,
December 16, 2007 at 10:19 pm
no, the problem lies in your head. the world is not fair so get used to it. as what the mayor said, if you’re doing something bad, then its best you flee davao. so is that forced killing? no. do you need that a big money to leave the city? no. you have bad intentions/actions = you’re dead. its that simple.
target Drug Lords? why are they called Drug Lords? are they frequently seen in the streets? i don’t think so. are they in davao? i’m afriad not.as to what i observe, their scope is in davao or around only. The rich are also targeted, the differences is they have lots of money. leaving davao anytime they like, maybe paying the police, and probably its too much hastle. its just ups and down, nothing is perfect.
again, the world is not fair. everywhere theres killing, not just here. at least in davao theres a reason for the killing.
and jerry pacman, i’m a user too. just not that often, as i know what’s best for my health and welfare.
you’re not superman or God. don’t whine or impose your ideals if you can’t even uphold them. and try living here so you know what is it like, not just blind assumptions. also, as you already know, media is just exaggerating.
Evaara Gaezanlei said,
January 29, 2008 at 4:03 am
The Davao Death Squad… I don’t know much about this so called vigilante group. Anyway I think it’s great that their killing off all those bad people. It’s really good to see that they’re doing what they can to diminish the crimes of this country. Not that I know much about how they handle their so-called victims, but I think they’re even willing to kill their own sons if they are caught with drugs as well. Hail to the non-discriminating DDS!!! When you finally get hold of the one who killed that 12-year old drug pusher/user child please kill him also for the sake of the families who are mourning for that kid. After all it is a crime to kill minors right? You must also uphold justice in your own organization. Kill all those wrong doers and destroy those who committed evil. I support you. Just make sure you won’t regret it if you finally find yourself in the hands of well-meaning peace keepers such as yourselves. If someone decides to destroy you because they think you’ve done much killing already then it would be good if you would submit yourself to their justice because that is what you do to all those other people you deemed unworthy to keep on living. God Bless to you all… I hope you find peace in what you are doing. And to all those people who support the DDS, I hope they don’t find you doing something bad because if they do maybe you’ll see why so many other people are against them. And I just hope that you will live long enough to realize just what evil really is. One more thing… If I die because of my protests against human rights violators then my death wouldn’t have been in vain.