ASEAN Beat

Does the Philippines’ War on Drugs Amount to Crimes Against Humanity?

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ASEAN Beat

Does the Philippines’ War on Drugs Amount to Crimes Against Humanity?

An examination of the charge and how it would apply in the Philippines.

Does the Philippines’ War on Drugs Amount to Crimes Against Humanity?
Credit: Presidential Communications Operations Office

Do the actions committed within the Philippines’ so-called “war on drugs” constitute crimes against humanity? This is a timely and important question as the third anniversary of the election of President Rodrigo Duterte approaches, and it has been more than a year since the International Criminal Court (ICC) first announced its preliminary examination into the war on drugs campaign launched by the Philippine government.

The investigation centers on the thousands of drug users that have been killed in alleged “clashes between gangs” but also covers “extrajudicial killings in the course of police anti-drug operations.” Ascertaining precise data on deaths in the drug war is difficult, with estimates ranging from 5,000 up to 27,000 people. However, the Philippine Supreme Court ruled in early April 2019 that the government solicitor general must release documents on the killings to human rights groups, so a more precise total may yet come to light.

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