In February 2016, Rodrigo Duterte promised to end corruption, drugs, and criminality within three to six months of his office assumption. He also promised that he would not hesitate to kill in doing so because there “could be no cleansing that is bloodless.” While he may have failed to deliver on his first promise, he has certainly lived up to the latter promise to kill under the guise of cleansing the country of its drug problem.

The topics of war against drugs, extrajudicial killings, and drug abuse in the Philippines will definitely come with many assumptions and predetermined arguments. Therefore facilitating is crucial in guiding these conversations. We have to be intentional that we help put out the fire and clear the smoke, rather than adding fuel to the fire.