Documenting the impact of Philippine drug policy, Project Tokhang, 1 July 2016

Abstract

Abstract​​​​​​​IntroductionGlobally, national drug policies vary across a broad spectrum. Some countries decriminalise and treat drug use as a public health issue while other countries criminalise drug use, adopt punitive approaches and compel addiction treatment. National drug policy in Asia is mainly grounded in creating a drug free environment. Punitive approaches have been widely adopted and compulsory detention centres have been used to enforce abstinence.On 1 July 2016, the Philippines implemented a national drug policy termed Project Tokhang with the aim of eradicating the nations’ drug problem. This policy involved the Philippine National Police conducting house visitations of drug suspects to persuade them to surrender and agree to cease their drug misuse. This policy can be considered as an extreme punitive approach and included provision for the execution of those who resisted.AimsThis thesis follows the implementation of Project Tokhang from July 2016 to June 2018 using Philippine online newspapers. These newspapers are a primary source of information regarding outcomes and responses to the policy. Philippine online newspapers include pro-government newspapers that tend to endorse the policy as well as non-government newspapers that tend to be critical of the policy. This content analysis of Philippine online newspapers aims to determine a) what we can learn about Project Tokhang from news reports regarding its implementation and b) how the political affiliation of the newspaper influenced the reporting details on Project Tokhang. In analysing and following the trend of a range of news reports, this thesis aims to discuss a) the intended and unintended consequence of an extreme punitive drug policy and b) how the policy is evolving to address the nation’s problem of drug misuse. The research question is to determine the usefulness of threatening drug users with death to compel abstinence.Methods Search using Factiva data base yielded 17,028 Philippine online newspapers. Sequential sampling from Monday to Sunday through the first to the fourth week yielded 500 news articles. A total of 364 articles met the inclusion criteria where 171 were pro-government newspapers and 193 were non-government newspapers. Content analyses was used to capture themes and trends. Coding was done manually, rules were formulated in counting the codes. The codes were grouped into 6 categories namely: a) Statements that endorse Project Tokhang, b) Statements that are negative about Filipinos using drugs and describe drug misuse as a crime, c) Statements that are critical of Project Tokhang, d) Statements that describe Project Tokhang as a policy that is improving, e) Positive statements about Filipinos using drugs and view drug use as a health issue and f) Descriptions that present data, information and statistics but do not endorse nor criticize Philippine drug policy. The categories were analysed and discussed.FindingsPro-government and non-government newspapers placed different emphases on the reporting of Project Tokhang. In one year, the surrender of 1,304,795 million drug suspects, which represent an estimate of 73% of drug users, was endorsed as a positive outcome of the policy. There was little evidence of rehabilitation for most drug suspects who surrendered. The implementation of the policy was accompanied by the killing of an estimated 4,021 drug suspects by February 2018, during what the government considered as legitimate drug operations. Critics of the policy reported drug related killings reached an estimate of 7000 – 14,000 individuals including innocent bystanders, law enforcers and included vigilante killings.Pro-government and non-government newspapers reported approaches to improve the policy such as police accountability, improved reporting of outcomes, and shifting leadership to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to promote adherence to the law in the implementation of the policy. However the various killings continued and were difficult to control. Little attention was given to drug misuse as a public health policy. Various local rehabilitation programs and community based therapies were implemented but were limited in addressing the many drug users who may require rehabilitation services. A national framework for drug rehabilitation was lacking during the implementation of the policy.ConclusionThe intended goal to eradicate drugs and crime through an extremely punitive approach was associated with many killings. While it may be too early to evaluate the long term outcome of the policy, initial findings did not provide evidence that threatening drug users with death can deter drug misuse. The cost of lives with no guarantee of reducing drug misuse should promote a change in policy. A national drug policy not solely punitive and supports drug rehabilitation should be considered.