New York Times-Asia headlines news on extrajudicial killings in PHL 

The Duterte administration's campaign against the illicit drug trade as well as extrajudicial killings (EJK) related to illegal drugs continue to make headlines, locally and internationally.

News about EJK in the Philippines landed on the front page of the August 20 to 21 issue of the International New York Times-Asia.  

The featured photo, taken by Jez Aznar, shows women looking down on a crime scene on the streets and the story, written by Richard C. Paddock, focuses on Renato Bertes and his son JP.

The two were killed while in the custody of police officers in Pasay City, who claimed that JP allegedly tried to wrestle a gun away from them.

The circumstances of their death prompted the Commission of Human to conduct a probe and the agency subsequently ruled that neither Renato nor JP could have put up a fight due to existing fractures on their arms.

Aside from the CHR's findings, Paddock also noted that although President Rodrigo Duterte had not commented on the case, he asked that the police refrain from using excessive force.

Still, Paddock writes, "he showed no sign of backing down from his call to kill drug suspects."

The President's statements against Senator Leila De Lima also received attention.

"Mr. Duterte lashed out at Ms. de Lima in his speech on Wednesday, accusing her, without providing evidence, of having an affair with her married driver, who he said collected drug payoffs for her," Paddock wrote.

The war on drugs made headlines earlier this month, with the daily using the photo of a woman cradling the body of slain pedicab driver to draw attention to the current political climate in the Philippines. — VVP, GMA News