A woman rights activist aims a toy gun at an effigy of Philippine
President Rodrigo Duterte during a celebration of the International
Women's Day outside the presidential palace in Mendiola, Metro Manila,
Philippines March 8, 2018. Source: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
9th March 2018
NOTORIOUS for his deadly war on drugs, Philippines president Rodrigo
Duterte has warned the nation’s elite of cocaine reaching the country’s
shores at a fast pace as cartels gain a stronger footing in the country.
“The rich, be on guard. Cocaine is coming in very fast. The cartels of
Mexico and South America have come in,” Duterte said at an event in
Tarlac City on Wednesday, as quoted by the Inquirer.
The firebrand leader said cocaine and shabu, the street name for
methamphetamine, is becoming an increasing problem in the country.
Police say they have killed about 4,100 drug dealers, in shootouts, but
have no ties to unidentified armed men who have killed hundreds of drug
users. The government denies activists’ allegations that drug dealers
and users are being systematically targeted for execution.
Duterte also denied allegations the government targeted the poor in the
bloody war against narcotics while the rich narcotic kingpins were
spared.
The body of a dead man with his head wrapped with masking tape, whom
police said was a victim of a drug-related vigilante execution, lays on a
street in Pasay city, metro Manila, Philippines November 15, 2016.
Source: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco/File Photo
“They say, ‘Why is Duterte killing only the poor?’ They are wrong. I do
not kill the poor. I am killing the poor who are criminals,” he said
said in defense of the government’s approach to the war.
“’Shabu’ (crystal meth) operations were handled by an organization—not
an individual—and it only happened to include people on the street who
sell the drug.”
Duterte gave a speech lasting well over an hour on Wednesday, focusing
heavily on justifying his anti-narcotics campaign, blasting human rights
groups, according to Reuters.
“I take full legal responsibility for things that are happening,
intended or not intended. I’m here to protect my country,” he said, to
big applause. “I believe if I stop this crusade it would have
compromised this country, and the next generation, and it would have
been my failure.”
In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein,
rebuked Duterte on several fronts, criticising his “vilification” of a
UN special rapporteur, his instruction to police to not cooperate, and
“deepening repression and increasing threats” to those with dissenting
or independent views.
“This authoritarian approach to governance threatens to irreparably
damage 30 years of commendable efforts by the Philippines to strengthen
the rule of law and respect for the human rights,” he said.
