The State Department comment followed the release of Philippines police figures showing there have been about 1,800 drug-related killings since Duterte took office seven weeks ago. Its special rapporteur on summary executions said the promise of immunity and bounty to those who killed drug suspects violated global law. “What is particularly worrisome is that the campaign against drugs seems to be an excuse for some law enforcers and other elements like vigilantes to commit murder with impunity”, Ms De Lima said.
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The Philippines will not be leaving the United Nations, despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s threats to do so, said the country’s foreign minister on Monday.
The high number of deaths has alarmed human rights groups and leaders of the Catholic Church, as well as the United States and UN-appointed human rights experts, who have warned the Philippine government and its officials that they could be held liable amid the widespread killings.
Abella maintained that the Philippines was not deserting the 193-member worldwide body which, the President claimed, disrespected him as head of state for issuing statements about his administration’s vicious drug campaign. Archbishop Villegas said. “Will you kill me again and again on social media for saying this?”
The archbishop said the Philippines was becoming a “killing fields nation” as it attempted to stamp out drug crime. Another senator, Antonio Trillanes IV, asked dela Rosa why the police have failed to stop the spate of killings perpetrated by suspected anti-crime vigilantes, including motorcycle-riding gunmen.
Human rights activists light candles in Quezon City for the victims of extra-judicial killings.
Mr. Abella said the government welcomes an worldwide investigation into alleged human rights violations in the police’s conduct on the war on drugs, but such inquiry should be done through official channels and in observance of proper protocols. Witnesses accused some policemen of gunning down suspects or being involved in illegal drugs during a senate inquiry into the killings on Monday.
One woman told the Senate committee her husband and father-in-law were arrested and beaten by officers and taken to a police station where they were gunned down last month.
“There was torture”, said commission regional chair Gilbert Boiser. In June, however, her parents were called by the policemen and the two were never seen alive again, she told the senators.
The Philippines’ head diplomat says the country will not leave the United Nations, even though the country’s new president, Rodrigo Duterte, threatened to do so.
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“When you are exhausted, disappointed and frustrated and angry under these circumstances, we must give a leeway on the part of the President for this kind of reaction”, Yasay said at a press briefing on Monday.
