© AFP/GettyPolice officers investigate the dead body of an alleged drug dealer, his face covered with packing tape on a street in Manila.
Rodrigo Duterte was elected last month after promising to wipe out crime and corruption throughout the country, relying heavily on an anti-drug campaign centered around murdering people who use or sell drugs. Duterte has encouraged law enforcement, and even civilians, to kill people suspected of selling drugs and people who struggle with addiction. He said, "If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful."
© AFP: Ted AljibeMass surrender of drug users and pushers.
During his campaign, Duterte estimated that 100,000 people would die as a result of this crackdown. According to AFP, Duterte has not been deterred by the human rights concerns opponents have raised about lack of due process. Additionally, as part of his initiative, Duterte promises to fully pardon anyone involved with the killing of people who use or sell drugs. Last week, police announced a plan to erect a large electronic billboard outside their headquarters in Manila that will keep track of all these drug-related killings.
Comment: Prior to the election, the Philippines had passed laws and signed international agreements binding it to work against police abuse, extra-judicial killings and the death penalty -- which Mr. Duterte is summarily overturning with his radical and draconian drug cleansing mandate.