Since Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs started, 402 drug suspects had been killed nationwide from July 1 to August 2, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). More than 500,00 people surrendered as either drug addicts or illegal drug dealers across the country.
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Duterte ordered their security escorts withdrawn and cancelled their firearms permits, adding that they would face sanctions.
“If you show the slightest violence in the resistance, I will tell the police, “Shoot them”, he said.
Duterte, however, has also said he will be “sensitive to the State’s obligations to promote, and protect, fulfill the human rights of our citizens, especially the poor, the marginalized and the vulnerable”. The list included eight judges, more than 50 incumbent and former mayors, vice-mayors, governors and congressmen as well as 95 police officers, soldiers and jail guards.
“I will not hesitate to kill you … don’t think that you’re a governor or a mayor”, Duterte said.
“The Commander-in-Chief has already ordered their relief from whatever positions the named AFP personnel are holding and directed them to report to the Chief-of-Staff (AFP head Gen. Ricardo Visaya)”, he added. “I don’t care about human rights, you better believe me”, said the president.
In the southern city of Davao on Sunday he implicated scores of politicians, government officials, judges and law enforcement leaders, before promptly sacking the named members of the military and police.
The President has been reiterating his strong stance against illegal drugs, crime and corruption.
Many of those who presented themselves with pledges to straighten out their lives wore rubber wristbands bearing Mr Duterte’s name.
He had previously been mayor of the country’s third biggest city, Davao, for 22 years where his tough approach and controversial comments earned him the nickname “The Punisher”.
Duterte said he had no fear the anti-crime campaign would cause his impeachment and removal from office.
Thousands of drug users or dealers have reportedly flooded into rehabilitation centers or surrendered themselves.
On Friday, Duterte reiterated his “shoot-to-kill” order against drug dealers resisting arrest.
The tough talk is reaching down through the chain of command, and other officials have echoed Duterte’s language.
The International Drug Policy Consortium published a letter urging international drug agencies to condemn the widespread killing.
“If you don’t want to die and get hurt, don’t pin your hopes on priests and human rights (groups)”.
Espinosa’s lawyer, Romeu Sterotoulas, told CNN Philippines that his client has nothing to do with illegal drug operations in his town.
“For as long as it is done in the performance of the duty by the police and soldiers, akin ‘yan [that is my responsibility], that is my official and personal guarantee”, he said.
No evidence has surfaced that the murdered man was in the drug trade, but that did not stop Duterte to use the incident as a warning to others.
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In June, UN chief Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned Duterte’s apparent support of extrajudicial killings.
