MANILA, Philippines (AP) – The Philippine president has said there is no problem in holding him responsible for several murders under strict anti-drug action, adding that he is ready to face charges that could lead to jail time, though not the charges. Crimes against humanity.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks on Monday night were a clear acknowledgment of the possibility that he could face a wave of criminal charges for the bloody campaign he launched after taking office in mid-2016. Police have reported about 1,000 suspected homicide cases, but Right Watch Dogs suspect the death toll is much higher.
“If there’s a murder going on, I say I’m the one … You can hold me responsible for anything, any death in drug dealing,” Duarte said.
“If you’re killed, it’s because I’m angry with the drugs,” the president said sternly. “If I say this, bring me to the court to be imprisoned. Well, I have no problem. I would gladly go to prison and serve my country. ”
At least two complaints of crimes against humanity and mass murder in connection with Duarte’s campaign are being investigated by a lawyer at the International Criminal Court, which will determine whether there is enough evidence to open a full-fledged investigation.
Duarte withdrew the Philippines from the World Tribunal two years ago in response to a complaint in which human rights groups said there was a major setback in the country’s fight for liberation. ICC prosecutors say the drug murder investigation will continue despite the Philippines’ withdrawal.
“When did drugs become humanity?” Duarte asked Monday.
He described the drug threat as a national security and public threat, such as the decades-long communist uprising, which the government must control.
“If this is allowed to go ahead and no decisive action is taken against them, it will endanger the security of the state,” said Duarte, a former public prosecutor.
“When you can save your country from the destruction of people like NPAs and drugs, you are doing a sacred duty,” he said, referring to the Communist New People’s Army rebels.
1 in the Philippines. Millions are addicted to drugs, Duterte said, citing figures from the Anti-Narcotics Agency. The figure is much smaller than the million million addicts who reported to the police at the start of the presidency justifying their crackdown.
Police have reported that at least 5,856 drug suspects were killed in the raid and more than 256,000 others have been arrested since the crackdown began. Human rights groups have made significant allegations against officials under the death report.
Duarte said he should not have been convicted of drug murder that did not occur during the police operation, saying the death gangs could have competed or reached a number of compromises.
Widespread suspicions of a judge’s murder are being raised in the crash, with Dorte and police making allegations. In 2018, a court convicted three police officers of killing a 17-year-old student after witnesses, and a security video denied their claim that they were shot after allegedly resisting violently, killing police officers after drug suspects were killed. Is a common cause cited by.
.
