Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 15) — Human rights groups are urged to “take a deeper look” at the country’s drug situation, President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday.
“Nakiki-usap ako sa mga (I request) Human Rights (groups), kindly take a deeper look into the drug situation,” Duterte said in a televised Cabinet meeting, emphasizing that the deaths occurred because these drug suspects “resisted” arrest.
During his presentation, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reported that during the week of June 6 to 13, 32 drug suspects surrendered, while 1,095 drug operations were conducted. Of these, 1,576 individuals were arrested and 11 were killed during the procedures.
“You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because ito lumaban talaga at hindi kasali ang pulis ko na may tama at namatay din (they really resisted and this does not include police officers who were wounded and killed too),” he added.
The chief executive also noted how the illegal drug trade remains to be a big business in the country. Citing Año’s report, value of illegal drugs confiscated during the said period reached around P1.2 billion.
“Kita mo namang negosyo iyan… kaya kung ayaw ninyong tumulong, huwag na kayong… takutin iyong mga pulis na demanda-demanda, opening records” he said, noting that records cannot be opened because those requesting for access might even see their own names listed as one of those who provided information to authorities.
[Translation: You can see that it’s a business, so if you don’t want to help, do not scare the police with filing of charges, opening of records.]
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He also warned drug traders that he will kill them if they continue to “destroy his country.”
The administration’s controversial war on drugs has been receiving criticism from human rights groups due to alleged killings of innocent persons, including minors.
On Monday, outgoing International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda requested for an authorization to conduct an investigation into the alleged crime against humanity committed in Duterte’s war on drugs.
She also said that the “police and other government officials planned, ordered, and sometimes directly perpetrated extrajudicial killings.”
READ: ICC prosecutor requests permission to probe PH drug war
