A Frontline Account of Tokhang’s Short-Lived ‘Peace’
Between 2017 and 2021, I worked as a community development officer in a drug-plagued neighborhood in southern Cebu, Philippines. Every day, I felt a deep sense of fear. The community was unfamiliar to me, and residents often eyed me suspiciously, viewing me as a spy or someone collaborating with the police. My safety weighed heavily on my mind. Even my colleagues shared his own harrowing experiences—recounted he witnessed a man being shot in broad daylight in his front, that incident kept him away from the area for days out of concern for his life. Our volunteers concerned about my security, I frequently texted updates about shootings in the barangay hall, under the bridge tunnel, and even inside homes, that’s how intense we experienced, while being subdued by fear.
As part of our job, we organized community sessions and meetings for our projects everyday. Women and children were the most active participants, while men were often away working. I vividly recall how the government’s "Tokhang" campaign brought a period of relative peace to the area. The policy’s enforcement created a tangible sense of order. On one occasion, I observed a group of surrendered individuals—former drug users—attending therapy sessions led by a pastor. They weren’t merely monitored by authorities; efforts were also made to support their well-being and steer them away from relapse. Some of these people, I have crossed in the community, worked as tricycle drivers, carpenters, or fishermen, striving to rebuild their lives. Yet, despite their determination, some struggled to overcome the underlying mental health issues or socioeconomic pressures that led them to drugs in the first place.
During that time, I experienced a rare sense of security. Community members openly shared with me how the situation had improved compared to earlier years, crediting President Duterte’s relentless approach for establishing stability on the ground. It’s disheartening to see these efforts discontinued, as if his legacy was reduced to that of a sacrificial lamb for policies that ultimately aimed to benefit the Filipino people.
