Duterte suspected extrajudicial drug war killings

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that, like his fierce critics, he has also suspected extrajudicial killings may have happened under his drug crackdown that has killed thousands of people. Duterte said in televised remarks Monday night that he had once inquired into the 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 the president took office in mid-2016. Human rights groups have alleged many of the killings were rub-outs, but Duterte and the police said most were gunned down when they fought back. Western governments have called for an independent investigation into the killings, which have continued even during the coronavirus pandemic, but Duterte has dismissed such calls as meddling into his country's affairs.

"This extrajudicial killing, they have been harping for many years. Truthfully, I also suspect, and there was a time when I conducted a discreet hearing", the brash-talking Duterte said.

"What reached me is that, sometimes, there is a rivalry of the turf", he said, adding other drug dealers may have been killed by gangsters for running away with the drugs and the money.

"I know that, whether I like it or not, there is a war going on. I cannot stop the killings, the killing of criminals and the killing of my soldiers and policemen", he said. An International Criminal Court prosecutor has been examining complaints of crimes against humanity over the drug killings under Duterte but has not declared whether there is adequate evidence to start a formal inquiry.

(Image Credits: AP)

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