Duterte suspected extrajudicial killings in his drug war

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that like his fierce critics, he has also suspected that extrajudicial killings may have happened under his drug crackdown that has killed thousands of people.

He said in televised remarks Monday night he h once inquired into brutal deaths and was told some drug dealers may have been killed due to rivalry among syndicates or for stealing drug money.

More than 5,800 suspects have been killed and 256,000 arrested since Duterte took office in mid-2016. Human rights groups have alleged many of killings were rub-outs, but Duterte and police said that most were gunned down when y fought back.

Western governments have called for an independent investigation into killings, which have continued even during coronavirus pandemic, but Duterte has dismissed such calls as meddling into his country’s affairs.

“This extrajudicial killing, y have been harping for many years. Truthfully, I also suspect, and re was a time when I conducted a discreet hearing,” brash-talking Duterte said.

“What reached me is that, sometimes, re is a rivalry of turf,” he said, ding that or drug dealers may have been killed by gangsters for running away with drugs and money.

“I kw that, wher I like it or t, re is a war going on. I cant stop killings, killing of criminals and killing of my soldiers and policemen,” he said.

An International Criminal Court prosecutor has been examining complaints of crimes against humanity over drug killings under Duterte but has t declared wher re is equate evidence to start a formal inquiry.

Duterte also Tuesday ordered authorities to destroy large volumes of seized drugs in one week, citing past instances when seized drugs were resold by rogue officers. Only a small part of confiscated drugs should be stored as evidence in ongoing drug trafficking cases, Duterte said, and expressed hope courts would allow move. He said he plans to inspect seized drugs stored in warehouses.

“Why do we have to put on our shoulder burden of keeping a contraband or merchandise that can be stolen and used, and recycled? Duterte asked. “Because of huge amount of shabu that we cant guard every day, even one spoonful of it that gets lost, government will get blame.”

Shabu is local name for methamphetamine, a prohibited stimulant widely trafficked in Philippines. Since his crackdown started in 2016, more than 7,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, with a street value of 53 billion pesos ($1 billion), have been seized, along with smaller quantities of cocaine, marijuana and party drugs, officials said.

Human rights lawyer Edre Olalia said Duterte’s remarks deflect public attention to failure of his campaign to end drug problem, which continues significantly, and massive injustice over killings of thousands of mostly poor suspects.

“It’s ar one of those populist messaging that camoufls dismal failure of mailed-fist bloodbath on drugs,” Olalia said.

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