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This Article is From Aug 05, 2016

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Acknowledges Abuses In Drug War

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Acknowledges Abuses In Drug War
President Rodrigo Duterte said most drug dealers and addicts put up a fight with the police. (File Photo)
Manila: The Philippine President has acknowledged abuses in a battle against illegal drugs, which has left more than 400 suspects dead and alarmed rights activists, but is not backing down from a shoot-to-kill order for drug suspects.

President Rodrigo Duterte said in a speech late on Thursday that most drug dealers and addicts killed in gunbattles with police had put up a fight, but added that he was sure some were "salvaged," a local term for extrajudicial killings usually by law enforcers.

In the case of illegal killings, Duterte said the government will investigate.

Early today, he said he gave "shoot-to-kill" orders against drug dealers including politicians involved in the illicit trade.

A legal expert, Jose Manuel Diokno, says such an order is, at the least, legally questionable.

 

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