Lopez, Maria Aena M.

Legal Ethics
BSLM 4A 07/20/17

Is President Duterte an Ethical person?

President Rodrigo Duterte is the First President from Mindanao he is quite known
for how he manage to make Davao as one of the safest places in the world by being strict
about the law and ordinances in Davao. Because of these issues he was linked to the
Davao Death squad who are known to be responsible for summary executions of
individuals suspected of crimes and those people who are dealing drugs in Davao. He
was also named as The Punisher because of how he punish those who violate this rules
but will this way of ruling be effective for the whole country?

Nowadays in our country it has been a part for us Filipinos to hear news about
Extra Judicial Killings, although the government denies such Extra Judicial Killings many
Filipinos believe that this is part of the transitions period of the government and the
presidents War on Drugs, Crime and Corruption. In one interview President Duterte
consider normalizing Extra Judicial Killings and this has become alarming to the
International Court of Justice and the Commission on Human Rights. As a President
Duterte wants to have a better nation, he wants to protect and serve his people by
protecting our territory and making sure our environment is safe. However, I cannot fully
consider Duterte as an ethical person because the way he wants to implement this
changes is by doing wrong things, for example the way he wants to fight drugs is through
shoot to kill order on those people who don't want to surrender, for me this is unfair
because these persons who are killed are not given the right to be heard, even this people
committed a grave wrong our laws expressly states that No person shall be deprived of
life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the
equal protection of the laws, as a lawyer Duterte should change his way of controlling
the nation because this may lead to more chaos. The administration should first think if
these ways are effective and justifiable because as a public officer they should always
consider the consequences of their action and uphold the rule of law all the time. Duterte
has always shown the passion to serve this nation in whatever way he knows, even if it
means to kill those who violate the law especially those who are linked with drugs.

As a Filipino citizen, I know and believe Duterte can think of other ways to serve
the nation other than violence, he should realize that now he is leading a country thus he
should think first before he speaks and act because all the things he does or say will be
treated as a matter of national policy. Many people continue to trust Duterte because
maybe they believe that Dutertes way of handling our country is the only way we can be
a better nation and also because the people truly see that he cares for the country. As a
Filipino I hope Duterte can continue to serve us whole heartedly and to succeed and live
up to all his promises to bring change to the lives of the Filipino people.