Some People Need Killing

Some People Need Killing by Patricia Evangelista delves deep into the harrowing reality of the Philippines' drug war under the leadership of populist autocrat Rodrigo Duterte. This meticulously reported chronicle brings to life the brutal consequences of Duterte's campaign, marked by widespread extrajudicial killings, as experienced by the victims, their families, and the broader society.

The narrative unfolds through Evangelista's eyes, a journalist whose career took shape in the aftermath of the street revolution that promised a new democratic dawn for the Philippines. Now, decades later, she bears witness to a nation grappling with the erosion of those same democratic ideals amidst a violent crackdown on suspected drug offenders.

In Some People Need Killing, Evangelista escorts readers through the grim realities of Duterte's Philippines, where police forces and government-backed vigilantes indiscriminately target individuals, often operating under the chilling justification that 'some people need killing.' This phrase, hauntingly spoken by a vigilante named Simon, encapsulates the nihilistic acceptance of brutality that has permeated Filipino society.

The book stands as a journalistic tour de force, meticulously gathering testimonies from various stakeholders, including survivors, bereaved families, and even the perpetrators of violence. Evangelista's reporting captures the pervasive fear and trembling uncertainty of living under a regime that flouts legal boundaries, pushing its power far beyond constitutional constraints.

As a poignant opus in the genre of journalism of witness, Some People Need Killing transcends mere reportage. It maps the psychological terrain of a society caught in the throes of a moral and ethical crisis, illustrating the universal human impulses toward domination and resistance. Evangelista's narrative not only documents the relentless bloodshed but also interrogates the broader implications for democracy and human rights in a world increasingly drawn to authoritarian rule.

Some People Need Killing is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complex tapestry of power, violence, and resistance shaping contemporary politics, and it stands as a testament to the courage and tenacity of those who dare to tell the truth in the face of terror.