“We are living in dangerous times”
These are the words of Commission on Human Rights Head Chito Gascon as he described President Rodrigo Duterte’s current bloody regime.
In an article published by foreignpolicy.com, Gascon said that Philippines is now following a global trend towards “popularly elected despots” who use the mandate of their voters to weaken institutions and gain more personal power.
In addition, he also said the Duterte’s rule is a threat to the democracy and freedom that we have today.
“This is probably the biggest challenge to democracy since the dictatorship. With the election of Mr. Duterte we’re moving away from the post-authoritarian democratic consensus to a period of illiberal democracy.” he said.
Gascon also expressed his hopes that those who still believe in the power of democracy will fight back, but he admitted that it will take time before this happens again.
The CHR head also defended Sen. Leila De Lima regarding her involvement in the New Bilibid Prison drug trade.
“I don’t know if [De Lima] will survive this. I don’t know if I will survive this. The president said in his campaign that ‘change is coming,’ and probably change is here. But to us it actually feels more like winter is coming.” he added.
The President and the Commission on Human Rights have consistently exchanged heated arguments several times regarding the issue of extrajudicial killings brought upon by Duterte’s War on Drugs.
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