Some People Need Killing
A Memoir of Murder in My Country
BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR
Patricia Evangelista
4/29/20246 min read
Welcome to the book summary of “Some People Need Killing - A Memoir of Murder in My Country” by Patricia Chanco Evangelista, written and narrated by Janky Mind.
Introduction
“Some People Need Killing” is a book that takes you through the heart-wrenching journey of the Philippines’ battle against drugs from 2016 to 2022. It’s a gripping story of how thousands lost their lives to police and vigilante bullets under President Rodrigo Duterte’s rule. The book doesn’t just count the dead; it tells us who they were – mostly poor men caught in the crossfire of suspicion.
Patricia Evangelista, an investigative journalist, digs deep into this dark era, questioning how so many could die with the public’s nod. Her book is not just a tally of the fallen; it’s a deep dive into the violence that became an everyday excuse for murder.
Praised as a “journalistic masterpiece,” Evangelista’s work is more than a record of terror; it’s a tribute to those who perished in silence.
Please note: This book discusses sensitive topics like murder and violence. It includes descriptions of child abuse, strong language, and graphic accounts of violence and murder. Reader discretion is advised.
Chapter 1: The Promise of a Deadly Cleanse
Rodrigo Duterte spun a tale that struck a chord with many Filipinos. He pointed to drugs as the root of poverty, crime, and corruption. The culprits? The durugistas—drug users and dealers blamed for everything wrong, from failing schools to unsafe streets.
Duterte painted drug users as dangerous criminals who would steal, harm, and kill to satisfy their addiction. He claimed millions were drug-addicted, suggesting that citizens take matters into their own hands against these ‘monsters.’
Unlike other politicians, Duterte’s words weren’t just talk; they were a call to action. He appealed to those who felt forgotten despite the country’s economic growth and liberal reforms. Duterte dismissed the elite’s focus on human rights, arguing that only force could solve the drug problem.
Rejecting calls for rehabilitation, Duterte vowed to eradicate the drug issue through violence. His shocking promise to kill millions of drug users won him the presidency. Under his rule, thousands were killed in police operations, often resembling executions more than lawful arrests. Vigilantes, sanctioned by the state, contributed to a death toll that human rights groups estimate reached 25,000 by the end of Duterte’s term.
Chapter 2: The Tale of Blood and Numbers
Rodrigo Duterte wasn’t shy about his stance on drug users; he wore his brutal approach like a badge of honor.
His rise to prominence began as the mayor of Davao City, where he often shared a chilling tale from his tenure. One Christmas, a tragedy struck when a toddler was found dead. The suspect? A man hooked on shabu, a local meth variant. Duterte’s recounting of his confrontation with the suspect hinted at a dark outcome, alluding to a timely gift he had received—a snub-nosed revolver.
The truth of Duterte’s story remains a mystery, but the aftermath in Davao City is not. Over 800 alleged criminals, many just children, were killed by the so-called Davao Death Squad, reportedly with the mayor’s nod.
Duterte used this narrative to paint a picture of a nation overrun by murderous drug addicts, claiming that wiping out hundreds had cleansed his city. As president, he promised a broader purge.
But the numbers didn’t add up. UN statistics suggested that the Philippines’ drug use was below the global average, and the supposed link between drug use and murder rates was tenuous at best.
Despite the shaky facts, Duterte saw these figures as a green light for the violent campaign he was eager to launch.
Chapter 3: The Deadly Knock of Tokhang
In Duterte’s early days as president, he often spoke of killing, and his words turned into a grim reality. He likened his drug war to a double-barreled shotgun: one barrel for the big fish in the drug world, the other for the small-time players on the streets.
Operation Tokhang was the name of the game, a mix of Filipino words for “knock” and “plead.” Police would knock on doors, offering suspects a chance to confess and beg for mercy. But this offer was a death sentence in disguise. Whether it was vigilantes or police, the end was often the same: death for those who answered the door, even if they had surrendered.
Police reports told a story of perfect aim and deadly encounters where suspects supposedly shot first, but the police always shot to kill, with no injuries on their side. This pattern of flawless police shootouts raised eyebrows, but the official line was that it was just good fortune. Duterte saw no reason to question it; to him, it was a sign of success.
Chapter 4: The Unlikely Survivor’s Story
Efren Morillo’s story is a stark contrast to the violent image of drug users painted by Rodrigo Duterte. Efren, a casual marijuana user, was far from the meth-addicted criminal Duterte railed against.
Yet, Efren’s background made him a prime target in the drug war: young, poor, and just getting by. His survival, however, set him apart from the many who didn’t make it.
One sweltering day, after collecting a debt, Efren joined friends for pool. Their game was cut short by a police raid. Accused of being drug dealers, they were bound and searched. No drugs were found, but that didn’t stop what came next.
Forced to kneel, Efren faced a police officer’s gun and begged for his life. Despite his pleas, the officer shot him. As Efren lay bleeding, more shots followed, silencing his friends. “One’s still breathing,” someone noted, and two final shots were fired.
Miraculously, Efren survived, escaping to seek medical help after the police left. At the hospital, he was arrested and accused of assault. The police report claimed the officers had killed four dangerous drug dealers in self-defense. But Efren’s survival contradicted their story.
In court, despite the officer’s false testimony, forensic evidence supported Efren’s version. It took five years, but justice finally prevailed, and Efren Morillo was acquitted.
Chapter 5: The Unseen Battles
Efren Morillo’s survival was a rare exception in the grim saga of Duterte’s drug war. Journalists uncovering other stories found a recurring theme: the police were not just enforcing the law; they were taking lives without due process.
The targets weren’t the kingpins of crime; often, they were just ordinary individuals linked to drugs. Duterte dismissed any criticism as mere sentimentality. But then, a shocking incident brought the official drug war to a halt.
In Quezon City, police abducted a South Korean businessman, Jee Ick Joo, under the guise of a drug raid. Despite receiving a hefty ransom, they killed him and tried to erase all evidence. This crime sparked outrage, leading to national embarrassment and a diplomatic crisis.
The scandal forced Duterte to prioritize cleaning up the police force. He suspended his deadly campaign, and for a short while, the death toll ceased to climb.
But the violence didn’t stop; it just changed hands. Police outsourced the killings to shadowy figures, and the death toll, according to human rights groups, soared. These chilling events are now under the scrutiny of the International Criminal Court.
Final summary
Rodrigo Duterte’s compelling tales swayed the hearts of many Filipinos, leading him to the presidency. He pointed fingers at drug users and dealers, claiming they were the root of the nation’s woes. Duterte vowed that eliminating these individuals would solve the country’s problems. Tragically, this led to the loss of countless lives, mostly poor men suspected of drug ties.
Despite a scandal that forced him to publicly abandon his harsh tactics, the killings persisted in the shadows. By the end of his term in 2022, the death toll had risen dramatically, drawing the attention of the International Criminal Court.
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About the Author Patricia Chanco Evangelista is a renowned Filipina journalist and filmmaker, known for her incisive coverage of conflict, disaster, and human rights issues. She reports for Rappler and contributes to Esquire magazine. “Some People Need Killing” marks her debut in book authorship.