The number of suspected drug traffickers killed in his seven-week-old war on drugs had previously been put at about 900 by Philippine officials.
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But for Duterte, hounding from the United Nations is nothing more than unhelpful, unwanted criticism from overseas. But the deaths of hundreds of drug suspects, mainly in shoot-outs with police, has drawn criticism from overseas, including the U.S. State Department and two United Nations special rapporteurs who have called for a formal investigation into the killings.
Duterte and his aides have given conflicting positions on whether they would allow United Nations experts to come to the Philippines to investigate allegations government security forces are carrying out extrajudicial killings.
A Senate probe into the spate of killings began Monday, with police chief dela Rosa telling reporters before the hearing that they “have nothing to hide”.
“This is like anarchy”, Trillanes said. “Furthermore, they are not acting in accordance with existing procedures in engaging and cooperating with member states”, Mr. Yasay said. I tell you, you’re [ not useful ].
“In the distant past, no police will ever work and risk their lives”, President Duterte answered. Duterte first gained notoriety as the tough-on-crime mayor of Davao City. “I assume full responsibility for what happened because I was the one who ordered it”, Duterte told a news conference in Davao City at the weekend. The bishops warned that the killings will only “exacerbate” the problem of illegal drugs.
“Why are you Americans killing the black people there, shooting them down when they are already on the ground?” he asked.
The president lamented that the government is also losing an average of two or three police officers in every drug operation launched by the police. De Lima denied any wrongdoing and vowed to proceed with her Senate committee inquiry of the massive killings.
The Philippines’ brash-talkingpresident threatened Sunday to withdraw his country from the United Nations and lashed out at USA police killings of black men in his latest outburst against critics of his violent, vigilante anti-drug campaign, which has left hundreds of suspects dead.
The U.N.’s special rapporteur on summary executions, Agnes Callamard had pointed out that by giving security to the police and vigilantes who carried out killings, Philippines was violating global law.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have both condemned Duterte’s “apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killings, which is illegal and a breach of fundamental rights and freedoms”.
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Duterte described the U.N.as inutile, and lashed out at USA police killings of black men.
