Rights group says report underscores the need for a UN-led investigation into Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly anti-drug policy.
by Ted Regencia
21 Feb 2018.
An opposition senator in the Philippines said the death toll in the government’s war on drugs has now surpassed 20,000 since Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte came to office in 2016.
In a speech before the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, Antonio Trillanes said the Duterte administration’s own report shows 3,967 “drug personalities” have been killed after allegedly resisting arrest during police operations between July 1, 2016, and November 27, 2017.
Another 16,355 homicide cases – from July 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017 – have been classified as “under investigation”.
UPFRONT: Is Duterte’s drug war undermining the rule of law? (12:32)
The report also said 118,287 drug personalities have been arrested, and 1,308,078 others surrendered to authorities during the same period.