The recent road rage shooting in Antipolo, which left three people wounded and resulted in the arrest of the suspect, should serve as a sobering reminder of why a culture of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) is not only unjust but also perilous for society as a whole. This incident is a byproduct of the normalization of violence—a legacy that the Duterte administration’s brutal anti-crime campaign has helped to instill in the Philippines.
The Rise of Vigilante Mindsets
Under the previous administration’s war on drugs, EJKs were not only tolerated but encouraged. Many Filipinos were led to believe that violence was an acceptable solution to criminality and that swift, lethal justice—without due process—was the best way to maintain order. This mindset emboldens individuals to take the law into their own hands, believing that their actions are justified in the name of so-called “peace and order.”
The Antipolo shooting is a stark example of how this thinking manifests in everyday situations. A disagreement on the road should never escalate into gunfire, yet here we are—another violent encounter, another person thinking they can shoot their way out of a dispute. This isn’t about self-defense; it’s about a dangerous entitlement to violence that has been brewing for years.
The Dangerous Precedent of EJKs
When the state itself disregards due process and human rights, it sends a clear message: killing is an acceptable solution. While the previous government claimed that their anti-drug campaign was necessary for public safety, it instead created an environment where violence became routine, desensitizing people to bloodshed.
The result? The erosion of legal and moral boundaries. If the government can justify killing suspected criminals without trial, what’s stopping ordinary citizens from believing they can do the same over something as trivial as a traffic altercation? This is why EJKs are dangerous—not just because of the thousands of lives lost, but because they plant the seeds of lawlessness and impunity in everyday interactions.
Restoring Order Through Justice, Not Violence
The Antipolo shooting highlights the urgent need for a justice system that upholds due process rather than relying on brute force. We need stronger enforcement of gun control laws, conflict de-escalation training, and a justice system that punishes crime fairly and transparently. More importantly, we need to undo the mindset that problems—whether big or small—should be resolved through violence.
If we continue down this path, where arguments on the road turn into shootouts, what kind of society are we left with? One where anger equals a death sentence? Where anyone with a gun can be judge, jury, and executioner? The Philippines must move away from this cycle of violence before it becomes even more ingrained in our culture.
The Antipolo road rage case isn’t just another crime story—it’s a wake-up call. It’s a sign that the normalization of extrajudicial killings has consequences beyond the drug war. It affects how we treat conflict, how we perceive justice, and ultimately, how safe we feel in our own communities. It’s time to reject the violent mindset that has been allowed to fester and start rebuilding a society where justice prevails—not the barrel of a gun.
