Philippine lawyers ask Supreme Court to halt 'illegal' war on drugs

The petition comes as public scrutiny intensifies on Duterte’s signature campaign
Reuters (UK)
Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Philippine lawyers filed an injunction with the Supreme Court to try to stop President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, calling it as an illegal campaign that lets police kill and circumvent legal procedures. The government’s directive for the fierce 15-month-old crackdown permits police to “negate” and “neutralise” targets, effectively granting them a license to kill suspected users and dealers, without gathering evidence or building a case, the lawyers said. The petition comes as public scrutiny intensifies on Duterte’s signature campaign, which he insists will not stop, regardless of the bloodshed. (See also: Duterte orders PDEA to solely undertake all anti-drugs ops)