A Filipino who is now living in London took a vacation here in the Philippines and shared his thoughts and experiences from the people he encountered in the country.
Photo credits: Inquirer and Adrian Williams Facebook account
On his Facebook account, Adrian Williams said he's been in the country for a week, he had talked to taxi drivers, gov't employees, security and police etc., or what he simply means is ordinary people, but he haven't met an anti-Duterte supporter.
He also shared his opinion about the alleged extrajudicial killings and he believes that President Rodrigo Duterte is not behind that.
"The majority of the current killings are not murders carried out by Police or Duterte. I firmly believe, and so do most of the people I speak to here, that most of these killings are carried out by the drug syndicates taking out possible informants," Williams wrote.
"Nobody agrees with ejk but they seem to forget the high level of actual ejk under the previous administration. Where officials, journalists and priests were being so obviously murdered," he added.
Read the full post of Mr. Adrian Williams below:
"As requested by a few friends, here are my thoughts after being in Philippines so far, I've tagged a few people who may be interested, who I've had chats about Duterte with and have commented on posts before...
"I have now been in the Philippines for a week. I've been working and holidaying, speaking to tourists and people who live here. From small biz owners, to taxi drivers, to relatives to people who work in hospitality, coastguard, govt employees, security and police. Despite confusion from tourists who have only seen news stories on western TV, I am yet to meet a single anti-Duterte Filipino.
"Perhaps the people I encounter aren't 'educated' enough, or aren't relevant enough for western/mainstream media. Perhaps they never attended one of the big universities or come from a family that prospered post-Marcos. In truth some are and have, but the only 'dissenting' words I've heard, have come from a relative working in the judicial system.
"He complains of more paperwork due to the new administration. There are more crime investigations and therefore more prosecutions being brought due to the increased investigations. So his problem is that the due process people say does not exist in the Philippines is becoming more efficient since Duterte's administration came in and he has more to do, overwhelmingly so. He has every right to moan, I don't know any public servant in the UK (Police or NHS) who does not complain of paperwork and workload.
"To me that sounds like the country and new process is working. Would any 'Community Commentator' really want less criminal investigations and prosecutions?It is safe to say that the country is firmly behind the President.
"The most vigorous complaints, seem to come from those who do not live in the Philippines or those educating themselves to leave. I'm not sure what the motivation is to bring down a president so obviously focused on making the country better?
"Nobody agrees with ejk but they seem to forget the high level of actual ejk under the previous administration. Where officials, journalists and priests were being so obviously murdered.
"I know many individuals profit from OFWs, perhaps Duterte's promise to reduce the amount of Filipinos who go abroad to work and provide them with greater opportunities to build a life in the Philippines is a threat to their livelihoods? Is this one of the reasons why ABS-CBN who drive so much revenue from OFWs is so against Duterte? It harks back to Miguel Syjuco's book and commentary of modern day 'Illustrados' and why some people look down on this kind of progress.
"The previous administration's short sited-ness in rejecting and stalling the RH bill, due to it potentially reducing the Philippines main export; People, show what the elite really think of their own people.
"Filipinos are not cattle, people deserve respect, public services need better pay, people need hope for a better life.
"The majority of the current killings are not murders carried out by Police or Duterte. I firmly believe, and so do most of the people I speak to here, that most of these killings are carried out by the drug syndicates taking out possible informants. We know some of the dead have previously surrendered, it is therefore viable the drug dealers want to ensure they are not able to implicate others when they are fully processed.
"I stress, I do not agree with the killings, but to blame the president is a cop out and not showing the ability to see the bigger picture. The environment here has been almost lawless and left to fester by the previous administration. Only now are we seeing progress in the fight to save the people. Labeling it all under terms such as drug war, ejk, vigilante killings is not taking into account what is actually happening and who is involved.
"The fact it is largely poor people is because the poor often fall into drug use and people sell each other out for money in a bid to escape poverty. I've seen it growing up on council estates in the UK. It happens all over the world. It happens in nearly every crime, mafia, drug based Hollywood movie. It is the coal-face of the fight, it is where we see the worst of the stories.
"I have a couple more weeks here and I can feel a difference, I can feel people have pride in their president. I hope he is able to deliver before the elite families succeed in bringing him down or taking him out.
"Whether USA again gets involved in a regime change is up for debate. But global media and parts of the community spreading biased news are really pushing the agenda and working against our own government."
**************
Thank you for taking your time checking this article. Please share your opinions and thoughts by leaving a comment below.
No comments:
Post a Comment