Since he became president on June 30, vowing to crack down on drug-related crime by having the police and the military kill suspects, his war on drugs had resulted the violent execution of more than 2,000 people “at the hands of law enforcement, vigilante groups, and other unidentified actors” as of the end of August, reported The Atlantic.
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According to the Philippines national police, almost 3,000 drug-related killings have been reported since Duterte assumed office June 30.
Over the past month, Duterte has slammed critics of the drive, including the United States, following their calls for the president to stop reported extrajudicial killings taking place in the Philippines in the fight against illegal drugs.
“The European Union and the Philippines enjoy good relations, and we will continue to discuss this issue, among many others, in our bilateral contacts with the authorities”, EU ambassador Franz Jessen said.
Presenting an obscenity-laced address in his hometown of Davao City on Tuesday, Duterte, who commonly uses vulgarities for emphasis in his passionate oratory, was critical of a directive last week from the European Parliament to the EU’s delegation in Manila.
“I will write them a letter to invite them for an investigation”, he added.
I will question them, one by one in open forum. then you will all see how I will beat those devils. Assuming it to be true, 1,700, who are they? “Criminals. You call that genocide”, he told officials in Davao. “How many have they killed?”
Duterte has also branded US President Barack Obama a “son of a whore” and Ban a “fool” after both expressed concern over the killings.
He then raised his middle finger to put his point across, in case the European Union didn’t get his tongue lashing. “Ban Ki-moon”, Duterte said at the opening of a new power plant.
European Union politicians said in a resolution that Duterte has “publicly stated he would not pursue law enforcement officers and citizens who killed drug dealers who resisted arrest”, and that he should investigate abuses of power “in full compliance with national and worldwide obligations and respect for human rights”.
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He promised that during the campaign, which is proving hugely popular domestically and boosting his poll ratings, 100,000 people would be killed during his crackdown.
