'Kian Bill' pushes for humane and health-based solutions for drug issues | ABS-CBN
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'Kian Bill' pushes for humane and health-based solutions for drug issues
'Kian Bill' pushes for humane and health-based solutions for drug issues
ABS-CBN News Intern,
Hannah Aliswag
Published Nov 05, 2024 05:20 PM PHT
Family, neighbors, and supporters of Kian delos Santos pay tribute at the site where he was slain at in Caloocan City on August 15, 2018. Delos Santos was killed after being apprehended by police during their anti-drug campaign. George Calvelo, ABS CBN News/file
Family, neighbors, and supporters of Kian delos Santos pay tribute at the site where he was slain at in Caloocan City on August 15, 2018. Delos Santos was killed after being apprehended by police during their anti-drug campaign. George Calvelo, ABS CBN News/fileMANILA — Akbayan Party List has filed the “Kian Bill”, which seeks to establish a national drug policy based on public health principles and the protection of human rights and in contrast to the bloody war on drugs of the Duterte administration.
MANILA — Akbayan Party List has filed the “Kian Bill”, which seeks to establish a national drug policy based on public health principles and the protection of human rights and in contrast to the bloody war on drugs of the Duterte administration.
House Bill No. 11004, authored by the Akbayan Party List Rep. Perci Cendaña, bans ‘tokhang’ operations, drug lists, torture, unlawful police interference and other harsh methods used in the drug war.
House Bill No. 11004, authored by the Akbayan Party List Rep. Perci Cendaña, bans ‘tokhang’ operations, drug lists, torture, unlawful police interference and other harsh methods used in the drug war.
“Tokhang” refers to the “knock and plead” operations that saw police personnel going to suspected drug personalities’ houses to convince them to enter rehabilitation centers.
“Tokhang” refers to the “knock and plead” operations that saw police personnel going to suspected drug personalities’ houses to convince them to enter rehabilitation centers.
Over time, "tokhang" became synonymous with drug-related killings and with the heavy-handed tactics used in the anti-drug campaign, which included the release of supposed "narco lists" identifying alleged drug personalities.
Over time, "tokhang" became synonymous with drug-related killings and with the heavy-handed tactics used in the anti-drug campaign, which included the release of supposed "narco lists" identifying alleged drug personalities.
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The bill pushes for a community-based health approach and for social support interventions to address drug use and dependence.
The bill pushes for a community-based health approach and for social support interventions to address drug use and dependence.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte and supporters of the drug war like former Duterte aide Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go have defended the brutal campaign, saying it was necessary to protect citizens from drug-related crime.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte and supporters of the drug war like former Duterte aide Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go have defended the brutal campaign, saying it was necessary to protect citizens from drug-related crime.
They have also equated concern for human rights with defending and siding with criminals.
They have also equated concern for human rights with defending and siding with criminals.
KIAN DELOS SANTOS
The bill is named after Kian delos Santos, the 17-year-old shot to death in an anti-drug oepration in Caloocan in 2017.
The bill is named after Kian delos Santos, the 17-year-old shot to death in an anti-drug oepration in Caloocan in 2017.
“The Kian Bill prevents the killing of more innocent Kians. Imbes na dahas at bala, solusyon natin ang magbigay ng karampatang lunas at direktang lingap sa mga drug users,” Cendaña said in a statement.
“The Kian Bill prevents the killing of more innocent Kians. Imbes na dahas at bala, solusyon natin ang magbigay ng karampatang lunas at direktang lingap sa mga drug users,” Cendaña said in a statement.
(Instead of violence and bullets, our proposed solution is to provide the appropriate treatment and direct care to drug users)
(Instead of violence and bullets, our proposed solution is to provide the appropriate treatment and direct care to drug users)
Delos Santos' case is a rare conviction in killings linked to the war on drugs, where authorities have acknowledged the deaths of more than 6,000 supposed drug personalities whom police said violently resisted arrest.
Delos Santos' case is a rare conviction in killings linked to the war on drugs, where authorities have acknowledged the deaths of more than 6,000 supposed drug personalities whom police said violently resisted arrest.
Estimates by human rights groups put the number of deaths at as many as 30,000.
Estimates by human rights groups put the number of deaths at as many as 30,000.
Akbayan introduced the bill, officially titled the proposed “Public Health Approach to Drug Use Act of 2024”, as the House of Representatives' quad comm continues its investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs.
Akbayan introduced the bill, officially titled the proposed “Public Health Approach to Drug Use Act of 2024”, as the House of Representatives' quad comm continues its investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings in the war on drugs.
A counterpart bill has been filed at the Senate by Sen.Risa Hontiveros of the Akbayan party.
A counterpart bill has been filed at the Senate by Sen.Risa Hontiveros of the Akbayan party.
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