UN experts to PHL: Stop unlawful killings of drug suspects

Human rights experts of the United Nations on Thursday called on the Philippine government to stop the extra-judicial killings of persons linked to illegal drugs.

“Allegations of drug-trafficking offences should be judged in a court of law, not by gunmen on the streets,” said UN special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and Dainius Puras in a statement.

Callamard, who is from France, is the special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary, and summary executions. Puras, of Lithuania, is the special rapporteur on the right to health.

Hundreds of drug suspects have been killed over the past few months, with deaths attributed to President Rodrigo Duterte's intensified campaign against illegal drugs. According to GMA News monitoring as of Thursday afternoon, 627 drug suspects have been killed since Duterte assumed office, 374 of whom were killed in police operations and 245 by unknown assailants.

Duterte has repeatedly encouraged law enforcers to go after drug suspects and kill those who resist arrest to defend themselves.

“We call on the Philippines authorities to adopt with immediate effect the necessary measures to protect all persons from targeted killings and extrajudicial executions,” Callamard said.

“Claims to fight illicit drug trade do not absolve the government from its international legal obligations and do not shield State actors or others from responsibility for illegal killings,” he added.

Callamard said the State has a legally binding obligation to ensure the right to life and security of every person in the country, whether suspected of criminal offences or not.

‘Not enough’

Callamard and Puras welcomed recent reports that had Duterte condemning vigilante justice.

“However, it is not enough... Incentives to violence such as bounties or the promise of impunity also seriously contravene the rule of law and must end,” the experts said.

“All allegations of killings and extrajudicial executions must be promptly and thoroughly investigated. Perpetrators and instigators must be sanctioned without exception," they added.

Duterte on Wednesday defended his war on drugs saying he was taking full and sole responsibility for those suspected drug pushers who were killed after resisting arrest.

He, however, disavowed summary executions.

"That is the problem. And here comes UN easily swayed and coming on a very stupid proposition," Duterte said in a speech before police officers.

"You know for those who are killed by the drug syndicates, we can only investigate, but do not attribute acts of other criminals upon my government," he added.

‘Apparent endorsement of killings’

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in early August issued a statement condemning Duterte's "apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killings."

UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said the international group "remains greatly concerned by the reports of extrajudicial killing of suspected drug dealers and users in the Philippines."

"Such responses contravene the provisions of the international drug control conventions, do not serve the cause of justice, and will not help to ensure that 'all people can live in health, dignity and peace, with security and prosperity," UNODC said in a statement issued on August 3. —NB/JST, GMA News