With over 1,900 killed, Filipino senator launches inquiry into 'state-inspired' war on drugs
CBC Radio | Posted: August 24, 2016 9:03 PM | Last Updated: August 24, 2016
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte promised that his presidency will be "bloody." Just seven weeks since he took office, 1900 people have been killed, according to the national police chief. The deaths are a result of the president's so-called war on drugs.
Filipino senator Leila de Lima believes the violence must stop. She has launched a senate inquiry into the killings, at the hands of police and vigilantes. A former justice minister and chair of the country's commission on human rights, de Lima spoke with As It Happens guest host Laura Lynch. Here is part of their conversation.
Laura Lynch: Senator de Lima, how would you characterize these killings? Are they extrajudicial? Are they executions?
Leila de Lima: These are extrajudicial killings. They are not being given due process. They are being killed instantly. It's even worse than the death penalty.
LL: How much of the blame for the killings should be put on the shoulders of President Duterte? Is he inciting violence?
LD: Of course he is denying that. But we have heard his statements, even before, even during the campaign period and even when he is the president already. They would always try to put up excuses like, "This is rhetoric, he is just trying to instill fear among the bad guys." Of course he is denying that this is state-sponsored. They're denying that it's state policy. If it's not state-sponsored, at the very least, it's state-inspired. For me, it's state-inspired because of those very bold statements, from no less than the president, and echoed by our chief police officer. It's wrong. We cannot end drugs by ending lives. We cannot justify killing in the name of fighting or in the name of this so-called war against drugs.
LL: The president has said repeatedly that lawmakers who are attempting to block his efforts on curbing illegal drugs might risk being killed themselves. Do you see that as a threat — a threat directed at you even?
LD: [Laughs] It's unbelievable that we hear statements like that. But what kind of statements are those? We have not even seen anything like this, even a president like this.
LL: But are you worried for your own safety?
LD: Well, some people are telling me I should be worried. But you know, it is to his interest, or it is to the interest of his government, that they keep me safe because if something happens to me than people would blame them.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.