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Anti-drug war group to protest at PHL Embassy in Washington


A group opposed to the government's drug war will hold a protest on February 28 at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, in time for the first anniversary of staunch critic Senator Leila de Lima's arrest.

StoptheDrugWar.org said in a statement that it will protest the thousands of deaths that occurred since Duterte assumed office on June 30, 2016.

Filipino Americans, drug policy reformers, and other human rights defenders will call "for an end to extrajudicial killings in the Philippines and for Senator de Lima to be freed."

De Lima was jailed for her alleged involvement in the prison drug trade. Prior to her imprisonment, De Lima headed a Senate inquiry on confessions made by an alleged member of Duterte's Davao Death Squad.

The group will also encourage the passage of the bipartisan Philippines Human Rights Accountability and Counternarcotics Act in the U.S., sponsored and led by U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL).

A giant steel cage with people in it will be featured along with large photos of crime scenes from anti-drug operations and choice quotes from Duterte in the protest.

The protest will be held in solidarity with commemorations of the People Power revolution on February 25.

Protesting with StoptheDrugWar.org are Amnesty International USA, Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, DCMJ, Ecumenical Advocacy Network on the Philippines; Filipino American Human Rights Alliance; Institute for Policy Studies Drug Policy Project; and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. — MDM, GMA News

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