More than 6,200 people, suspected traffickers or drug addicts, have died during the anti-narcotics campaign.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte assured in a Cabinet meeting with experts that “he will never apologize” for the thousands of deaths resulting from the bloody war on drugs that he has driven since he came to power in 2016.
“I will never, never apologize for those deaths (…) Kill me, send me to prison, I will never ask for forgiveness,” remarked the controversial president Tuesday night during a televised meeting.
More than 6,200 people, alleged traffickers or drug addicts, have died during the anti-narcotics campaign, according to official data, while human rights organizations denounce that the figure could be between 27,000 and 30,000 dead.
Duterte, whose sole 6-year term expires in mid-2022, defended at that meeting the actions of the authorities, who shoot to kill in situations where drug suspects are supposed to be attacked during raids.
In September, the International Criminal Court (ICC) gave the green light to an investigation for crimes against humanity in this campaign promoted by Duterte, although in November it temporarily suspended the investigations at the request of the Government of the Philippines, which is conducting its own investigation of the crimes. anti-drug operations.
The Philippine Justice Department indicated in October that medical analyzes of many of the 52 cases investigated would deny the official version that the suspects drew their pistols before being killed by police.
Following this official report, Duterte assumed “full responsibility” for the acts, but said that he would only be tried by a court in his country.
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