FRANCISCO S. TATAD
OUR “state of lawless violence” has long preceded President Duterte’s formal declaration of its existence. The drug menace and the killings intended to solve it, the hostage-takings and the beheading of hostages who cannot afford to pay their kidnappers, the sporadic random explosions of violence, and the unpunished crimes on the streets more than amply demonstrate it. It was not necessary for the President to declare its existence, or how he is going to deal with it. He only has to do what needs to be done.