poledriver
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Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte escalates war on drugs after 300 killed
Bangkok: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered police to escalate his war on illegal drugs that has already killed almost 300 people across the archipelago nation since the start of July.
Mr Duterte shrugged off alarm over the rising body count in his first state of the nation address to parliament, declaring that drugs were drowning his country and human rights were no excuse to shield criminals.
"Double your efforts. Triple them if need be," the tough-talking former provincial mayor said in a message to police.
"We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered or been put behind bars ... or below ground if you wish," he said.
Human rights groups say police data showing that Mr Duterte's crackdown has claimed the lives of 293 suspected users and pushers in police operations between July 1 and July 24 does not include those slain in extrajudicial killings by vigilantes.
There have been many reports of accused drug users and pushers being executed and left on streets with cardboard signs allegedly "admitting" their guilt.
Mr Duterte, 71, was swept into power at elections in May after pledging to wipe out crime with the same "shoot-to-kill" methods critics say he used as the long-time mayor of the southern city of Davao.
Cont -
http://www.theage.com.au/world/phil...n-drugs-after-300-killed-20160725-gqdl2i.html
Bangkok: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered police to escalate his war on illegal drugs that has already killed almost 300 people across the archipelago nation since the start of July.
Mr Duterte shrugged off alarm over the rising body count in his first state of the nation address to parliament, declaring that drugs were drowning his country and human rights were no excuse to shield criminals.
"Double your efforts. Triple them if need be," the tough-talking former provincial mayor said in a message to police.
"We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier and the last pusher have surrendered or been put behind bars ... or below ground if you wish," he said.
Human rights groups say police data showing that Mr Duterte's crackdown has claimed the lives of 293 suspected users and pushers in police operations between July 1 and July 24 does not include those slain in extrajudicial killings by vigilantes.
There have been many reports of accused drug users and pushers being executed and left on streets with cardboard signs allegedly "admitting" their guilt.
Mr Duterte, 71, was swept into power at elections in May after pledging to wipe out crime with the same "shoot-to-kill" methods critics say he used as the long-time mayor of the southern city of Davao.
Cont -
http://www.theage.com.au/world/phil...n-drugs-after-300-killed-20160725-gqdl2i.html
