As It Should Be

In a statement, newly appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla stated that he will re-investigate the thousands of deaths under the bloody drug war of Former President Rodrigo Duterte in the eyes of the Ombudsman. As it should be. The Ombudsman is the country’s most powerful defense against corrupt practices done by high ranking government officials — they must do their job; the job to demand accountability, punish them when abuse of power comes into the picture, and to be independent — even if it involves the most powerful officials in the country. In the first place, the very main idea of why the Ombudsman was established is to hold the highest ranking officials of the country accountable. Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs is considered as one of the deadliest, darkest and most chaotic times in the country alongside Marcos Sr.’s enactment of martial law; it is just right that it should be investigated. With over 12,000 deaths according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the campaign promoted by the former head of state is a systematic killing machine. Opening the investigation inside our country not only holds Duterte accountable, it also satisfies the main point of his supporters on why his arrest under the International Criminal Court (ICC) was allegedly illegal — it respects our sovereignty. Some might say that this decision does not cover the current issues happening inside the country, and that we should leave it to the ICC to hold Duterte for his crimes — but giving the victims and their families justice is always worth it. At the end of the day, every issue must be given attention and that includes this. But this does not end on a statement; we need actual action. The people have had enough of sweet, flowery and enticing words by these officials — they need progress. We must demand accountability, service and we must never be satisfied with a statement that lacks action. Just like the job of the Ombudsman, we must also be independent — never neutral, always on the side of justice, accountability and the truth.