Over 700 People Killed Since July 1st After Philippine President Calls For Drug Crackdown

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Drug Genocide

Long Story Short 

During his campaign, current Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte promised to crack down on crime. Before taking office on June 30th, he repeatedly reassured police and civilians that they would be pardoned for killing any drug pushers or users who violently refused to surrender themselves.

Rodrigo Duterte AFP/GETTY IMAGES

So far, 700 have been slaughtered since the new Philippine war on drugs began. Duterte’s crime combating methods have led Human Rights groups to ask the UN to condemn publicly the atrocities currently facing the Philippines.

Reason For Killings

The police are claiming that drug peddlers killed in the past month violently resisted, and that was the reason for their deaths. Thorough investigations into whether or not these killings have been justified, don’t exist. The only evidence presented to the public is statements from The Police.

The Chief of Police in the Rizal province just east of Manila told the media that “undercover agents killed two known drug peddlers in sting operations.” He added, “there was a shootout between undercover police officers and drug peddlers when the men sensed they had sold 500 pesos ($10.80) worth of drugs to policemen.”

Rodrigo Duterte during his election campaign AFP/GETTY IMAGES

The Philippines media has been reporting that drug dealers who were killed in Manila, Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal, Bohol, and Cebu this weekend all resisted arrest.

President Duterte has been accusing people of being drug traffickers with no evidence. He then threatens their lives if they refuse to surrender.

Duterte has also mocked the widows of some of the deceased. After seeing a photo of a 26-year-old bridge cradling her dead husband, Duterte responded:

“There you are sprawled on the ground, and you are portrayed in a broadsheet like Mother Mary cradling the dead cadaver of Jesus Christ.” He finished by saying, “that’s just drama.”

People Targeted

The Widow that President Duterte mocked was Jennilyn Olayres, the wife of Mr. Siaron, a poor rickshaw whose only crime was using drugs. The rickshaw was gunned down by men on motorcycles who sped by while unloading shells into Mr. Siaron.

On the night of his death, Mr. Siaron had reportedly stopped by his father’s fruit stand for an apple and was shot as he rode away from his father’s stand.

IN QUOTES | Rodrigo Duterte, Philippines Presidential Promises

Mary Millus/Green Rush Daily

The police have not commented on the case, and they haven’t accused Mr. Siaron of selling any drugs. His wife claimed he used drugs but he was never violent, his only concern was finding customers so he could feed his family three meals a day.

Many of the killings are not drug kingpins; vigilantes are killing anyone they know or “believe” uses drugs without question.

Final Hit

A national opinion poll was conducted after his election last month, and the results found that 84 percent of Filipinos trusted in President Duterte. However, the outstanding number of people killed in the Philippines may lead to a decrease in the number of civilians who believe President Duterte.

The citizen’s council for human rights issued a statement last week accusing Duterte and his officials of disregarding due process and human rights during their war on drugs. The council awaits actions condemning these human right violations. So far, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime has remained silent on the subject.