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Name 3 major national issues. Discuss each How should the future leaders of our What values, qualities, mindsets, or
issues in not less than 120 words. You can use country address the national issue? behaviour would you want to see in the
the latest news or videos for reference. future President?
Unceasing “War on Drugs” First, the future leaders must initially
be the role model and basis of the public in As a first-time voter this upcoming
President Duterte’s declaration of “war showing the sense and importance of 2022 national elections, I would use my
on drugs” since he sat in power in June 2016 justice and trial processes. Summary voting rights to elect a president upholding
aimed to end the illegal activities involving executions do not bring any good to the the values and characteristics stated in the
drugs. However, it has caused unlawful actions lives of the people killed and also to their “pledge of allegiance in the Philippine
across the country. One of these are families. Continuing of these horrific flag” that his/her service must be for: God,
extrajudicial executions whereas law enforcers actions might create more criminals and nature, Filipino people, and the
and unidentified men are linked to be the vigilant who would cause another immoral motherland, Philippines. I believe that all
perpetrators of these horrific actions. These way of getting revenge instead of serving a of these are more than enough traits and
then alarmed several national and international real justice. values to effectively and efficiently serve
organizations especially those concerned with Second, future leaders must procure our country. Moreover, a mindset of
human rights. These are supported in an article enough body cameras for all of the selflessness and hunger for reformation in
entitled “World Report 2021: Rights Trends in peacemakers and law enforcers especially our systems will greatly contribute the
the Philippines” as it has clearly stated that the during combat or drug operations to verify government and the people. Lastly, I pray
Philippines’ human rights condition has caused and have footages of the real situation in for our country to have a righteous and
a significant fall during the Duterte an operation. This way, there will be a wise president who would accept his
administration. proof in justifying whether actions of these mistakes yet finds a way to deal and
Data from several government agencies officers during operations are moral or correct them as early and justly as possible.
such as PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement immoral. Consequently, law enforcement
Agency) and Office of the High Commissioner agencies should also be internally cleansed
for Human Rights themselves show thousands to reclaim the trust and respect of the
of death toll of individuals killed during anti- Filipino citizens to these peacekeepers in
drug operations. With all these, the serving the truth and justice.
International Criminal Court (ICC) continues to Lastly, the proper procedure and
pursue and examine the so-called death of rights of the suspects to trial must be
thousands of Filipinos related to drug activities. granted. This way, justice can truly be
served with proper judgements of the
court.
Deficiencies, Anomalies, and Incompetence The future leaders can address this
in the Department of Health (DOH) Amidst issue through improving the transparency
the Pandemic of all of its departments to avoid
deficiencies. Also, so these agencies can
report in the right time, there must be
The Department of Health (DOH), the sufficient departmental accountants and
main health agency of the country that is auditors so they can show the expendables
responsible for the providing overall public and fund allocations as quickly as possible.
health securities and services to the Filipinos There must also be investigations in
has been recently called out by the Commission assessing whether these officials have done
on Audit (COA). In an article of Deiparine corruptions or are being incompetent and if
(2021) published on Philstar, the COA audited proving so, they must be punished by the
the health department’s budget allocation and law.
usage of the P67.32 billion funding in 2020 for Our future leaders should also
the COVID response and they assessed prioritize the financial needs of the front-
‘deficiencies’ in the P66.28 billion of that liners and must address the issue of slow to
figure. non-provision of the health workers’
Moreover, according to the second special risk allowances and hazard pays.
article published by Deiparine (2021), the This must actually be the first move done
COA’s audit revealed unutilized cash, by the officials of the DOH in order to
procurement flaws, and some unlawful award repay the unending sacrifices of the health
of meal allowances. In the fund utilization, the workers both private and public ones.
COA suggested to Health Secretary Duque III
for him to remind all of his subordinates to “act
with urgency and efficiency” in properly
allocating the funds of the department as these
are intended to improve and address the
continuing health crisis. Also, the significant
question that the COA sought for explanation is
the huge amount of funds unused which must
be allocated for the health workers’ special
risks allowances and hazard pays as it is stated
from the “Bayanihan 2” law.
With all these, Secretary Duque insisted
that there are no funds stolen and mishandled
however, he stated that they will use the
findings of the COA to improve their
operations as a department especially during
this pandemic.
57 Years and Counting of Communism in This communism rebellion has to
the Philippines stop by continuing the traditional peace
talks with the founder and high-ranking
Since 1986, the communism rebellion in officials of the communist party. The
the Philippines has been considered to be one future leaders must see the importance and
of the longest rebellions in the world. The CPP- urgency of ending this revolt by promising
NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines – the communists some benefits and
New People’s Army) is the well-known assistance from the government. Also, if
communist group led by Jose Maria “Ka Joma possible, they can encourage these people
Sison who is now in exile in the Netherlands. to be part of some government activities
Several late presidents had tried to reach out and decisions to introduce to them the
and end the war between the government and ideology of a democracy and capitalism. If
the communist party through continuous peace the communist individuals witness the
talks yet they have failed. function of democracy and capitalism in
Therefore, when President Duterte has our country, little by little, they can be
been elected in 2016, he promised to finally transformed form communists to
end the rebellion through peaceful acts of talks democratic capitalists in a good way.
because he had his ties with some of the Also, tagging them as terrorist will
commanders of the group when he was still a just worsen things out and would inflame
mayor in Davao City. However, after some their will to be more against the
violent clashes between the two parties in government. As I observed, a lot of
2017, Duterte abolished his promise for peace impoverished and marginalized individuals
talks and signed a proclamation tagging join the communism groups because of
 communist fighters as terrorists. Consequently, deprivation and lack of justice in our
in the article of Regencia (2021), President country. Therefore, the future leaders must
Duterte ordered his peacekeepers (military and contribute and make significant changes to
police) to wipe out and execute all of the serve fast and right justice for the people.
communist rebels present in the country Consequently, poverty must then be
pertaining to the NPAs. This has then caused a resolved by providing them jobs, benefits,
new form of permissible killings just like his and assistance.
fatal “war on drugs”. Lastly, before applying the Anti-
In line with this, President Duterte also Terror Law, the future leaders must first
signed the Anti-Terrorism Law in July 2020 resolve the unjust and slow decisions of
which might be unfairly used against people our justice system. Without doing so, a lot
who are critics of the government such as more people will be unjustly sentenced to
media and protesters. The provision of this bill prison or death.
is to establish an Anti-Terror Council that has
the authority to tag people or groups as
terrorist/s and they can be arrested without any
use of warrant of arrest for 24 days.

References:
Human Rights Watch. (2021, January). World Report 2021: Rights trends in Philippines. https://www.hrw.org/world-
report/2021/country-chapters/philippines#4e7414
Deiparine, C. (2021, August). What COA flagged in DOH’s handling of billions in COVIV-19 funds. Philstar.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/11/2119296/what-coa-flagged-dohs-handling-billions-covid-19-funds
Deiparine, C. (2021, August). COA calls out DOH for ‘deficiencies’ in P67-B COVID-19 funds. Philstar.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/08/11/2119247/coa-calls-out-doh-deficiencies-p67-b-covid-19-funds
Regencia, T. (March, 2021). ‘Kill them’: Duterte wants to ‘finish off’ communist rebels. Human Rights News | Al Jazeera.
aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/6/kill-them-all-duterte-wants-communist-rebels-finished