The Philippines' 'war on drugs': What will change after Duterte? | DW News
Summary
TLDRThe transcript discusses the contentious 'war on drugs' under former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, which reportedly led to thousands of deaths. Officially, over 6,000 were killed in anti-drug operations, but human rights groups contest these numbers and the operations' legitimacy. The International Criminal Court has initiated an investigation. Some Filipinos are conducting their own probes, uncovering falsified death certificates and suggesting a much higher death toll. The poor were particularly affected, with families enduring loss and seeking justice. Despite Duterte's departure, concerns persist about ongoing violence and a culture of impunity.
Takeaways
- 😢 The so-called 'war on drugs' under former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is reported to have resulted in thousands of deaths, with the government claiming around 6,000 were in legitimate anti-drug operations.
- 🚨 Human rights groups dispute both the legitimacy of these operations and the reported death toll, suggesting the actual number of victims is much higher.
- 🔍 The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into the drug war, reflecting global concern over the situation.
- 🦴 Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortune discovered falsified death certificates in seven out of 47 cases, indicating a deliberate effort to conceal the true cause of deaths.
- 🔮 The flawed procedures for investigating deaths in the Philippines were exacerbated by Duterte's policies, leading to an escalation in killings post-2016.
- 🏙️ The poor were disproportionately targeted, with hitmen often planting evidence of drug abuse after carrying out extrajudicial killings.
- 🏛️ The International Criminal Court estimates that up to 30,000 people were killed during Duterte's tenure, a figure significantly higher than the official count.
- 🙏 Families of victims are seeking justice and truth, with some, like Catholic priest Referent Flaviano Villanueva, providing support through exhumations and legal advice.
- 🔒 Despite Duterte's departure, there are concerns that the culture of violence and impunity continues, with recent killings suggesting the issue is not resolved.
- 📉 The war on drugs is considered a failure by many, as it left families broken and orphaned, while drugs reportedly became cheaper and more accessible.
Q & A
How many people did the Philippine government claim were killed in legitimate anti-drug operations during Rodrigo Duterte's tenure?
-The Philippine government claimed that a little over 6,000 people were killed in legitimate anti-drug operations.
What is the discrepancy between the government's claim and human rights groups regarding the number of people killed in the war on drugs?
-Human rights groups dispute both the legitimacy of the operations and the number of those killed, suggesting that the true toll is much higher than the government's claim.
What action did the International Criminal Court take in response to the situation in the Philippines?
-The International Criminal Court opened an investigation into the war on drugs due to the concerns raised by the number of deaths and the legitimacy of the operations.
What shocking discovery did forensic pathologist Raquel Fortune make while examining the remains of some of the people who died?
-In seven out of 47 cases, Raquel Fortune found that the death certificates were false, listing natural causes of death when people had actually been shot.
How has the war on drugs affected the safety of citizens in the Philippines, according to the script?
-The script suggests that it's not safe to walk around because someone could be shot, and the police are not taking action due to uncertainty about how to proceed.
What kind of scenario have many families in the Philippines experienced, as described in the script?
-Many families have experienced hitmen approaching at night to shoot a loved one, followed by evidence of drug abuse being planted.
What does the International Criminal Court estimate the number of people killed during Duterte's war on drugs to be?
-The International Criminal Court estimates that up to thirty thousand people, more than four times the official number, were killed during Duterte's war on drugs.
What is the role of Catholic priest Referent Flaviano Villanueva in supporting the families affected by the war on drugs?
-Referent Flaviano Villanueva supports the families by paying for exhumations and providing legal advice, fearing that the killings are far from over.
What is the current state of the drug problem in the Philippines according to Dr. Fortune?
-Dr. Fortune believes that the drugs continue to be a problem, and in fact, they are cheaper these days, indicating that the war on drugs has been a failure.
What challenges does journalist Anna Santos highlight regarding the pursuit of justice in the Philippines post-Duterte administration?
-Anna Santos highlights that justice will be very difficult due to the current political climate, with President Marcos Jr and Vice President Sarah Duterte seen as continuity candidates, and law enforcement expressing satisfaction with the previous administration's war on drugs policy.
Why was it easy to falsify deaths in the Philippines during the war on drugs, as explained by Anna Santos?
-Anna Santos explains that it was easy to falsify deaths because the war on drugs targeted poor young men living in marginalized communities. Families, fearing for their safety and lacking resources for proper autopsies, would often sign off on medical certificates that listed natural causes of death to claim the bodies of their loved ones.
Outlines
🕊️ Controversy Over Duterte's War on Drugs
The paragraph discusses the contentious 'war on drugs' under former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, which has resulted in thousands of deaths. The government claims that around 6,000 people were killed in legitimate anti-drug operations, but human rights groups dispute both the legitimacy of these operations and the death toll. This has led to an investigation by the International Criminal Court. Some Filipinos have taken it upon themselves to conduct investigations, uncovering disturbing findings. Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortune discovered that in seven out of 47 cases, death certificates were falsely listing natural causes when the individuals had actually been shot. The paragraph also highlights the flawed procedures for investigating deaths in the Philippines and how Duterte's presidency exacerbated the situation. It describes the fear and danger faced by citizens, with extrajudicial killings and planting of evidence by hitmen. The International Criminal Court estimates that the actual number of deaths could be as high as 30,000, and many relatives are seeking to reveal the truth. The paragraph ends with a Catholic priest's efforts to support families by funding exhumations and legal advice, fearing that the killings are not over and have become an organized enterprise.
📜 Challenges in Seeking Justice for War on Drugs Victims
This paragraph features an interview with journalist Anna Santos, who has covered Duterte's war on drugs. Santos discusses the challenges in achieving justice due to authorities falsifying evidence and the potential for continued impunity under the new administration of President Marcos Jr and Vice President Sarah Duterte. She explains the difficulties faced by families in obtaining the bodies of their loved ones, often being forced to sign off on false death certificates to claim them. The emotional toll on the families is described as indescribable, with many having lost multiple family members to the drug war. Santos emphasizes the ongoing fight for justice and the right to grieve, as well as the importance of remembering the victims and the human rights violations that occurred under Duterte's administration. She concludes by stating that the fight for justice will continue, but for now, the focus is on the right to remember and grieve for the victims.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡War on Drugs
💡Legitimate Anti-Drug Operations
💡International Criminal Court (ICC)
Highlights
Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs resulted in thousands of deaths.
The government claims over 6,000 people were killed in legitimate anti-drug operations, but human rights groups dispute this number and the claims of legitimacy.
The International Criminal Court opened an investigation into the drug war due to the disputed claims.
Concerned Filipinos have been conducting their own investigations, revealing troubling findings.
Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortune discovered false death certificates in seven out of 47 cases, listing natural causes instead of gunshot wounds.
The Philippines' procedures for investigating deaths have been historically flawed, with Duterte's presidency exacerbating the issue.
The current safety situation in the Philippines is precarious, with arbitrary shootings and police inaction.
Many families have experienced hitmen planting evidence of drug abuse after shooting a loved one.
The poor were the primary victims of the war on drugs, with the International Criminal Court estimating up to 30,000 deaths,远超官方数字.
Relatives of the victims are seeking to set the record straight about the true circumstances of the killings.
Catholic priest Referent Flaviano Villanueva supports families by funding exhumations and legal advice.
Despite Duterte's departure, killings continue, indicating an ingrained culture of violence that has become an organized enterprise.
The war on drugs is considered a failure, leaving behind broken families and an ongoing drug problem.
Dr. Fortune believes the true death toll of the war on drugs will never be known due to unidentified and unclaimed bodies.
Journalist Anna Santos discusses the challenges of achieving justice when authorities are implicated in falsifying evidence.
The new administration, with Duterte's daughter as vice president, is seen as a continuation of the previous policies, including the war on drugs.
Falsifying a death in the Philippines is made easier by targeting poor young men and pressuring families to sign off on incorrect medical certificates.
The grief and loss experienced by the families of the victims is indescribable, with many losing multiple loved ones to the drug war.
Advocates and families continue to fight for justice and the right to grieve, remembering the victims and the human rights violations under the Duterte administration.
Transcripts
former philippines president rodrigo
duterte's so-called war on drugs killed
thousands the government says a little
over 6 000 people were killed in
legitimate anti-drug operations
rights groups however dispute both
claims that of legitimacy and the number
of those killed
it prompted the international criminal
court to open an investigation into the
drugs war but some concerned filipinos
are already carrying out their own
investigations and their findings are
troubling
each of these skeletons has a story to
tell
the story of a war on drugs the
philippine government fought over the
past six years
officially some six thousand two hundred
people were killed by police for dealing
with drugs
the true toll is nearly certainly much
bigger and the x-ratio due to bullets
with the remains
okay and i i'm just so happy that it was
they were not lost
they were not lost so two bullets came
with that
examining the remains of some of the
people who died forensic pathologist
raquel fortune made a shocking discovery
in seven cases out of 47 the death
certificates were false
they listed a natural cause of death
when people had actually been shot
the philippines procedures for
investigating death says the 60 year old
have always been flawed
but here comes
duterte as president in 2016 and he
simply took advantage of it
it's been happening before
but in 2016
the killings actually escalated
right now it's not safe to actually walk
around because somebody can just shoot
you
and the police
are not doing anything
because they don't know how
they can or they won't and some of the
killings actually are
perpetrated by
you know they're the perps
they did it they did it
many families in the philippines have
experienced this kind of scenario
hitmen approaching at night to shoot a
loved one
then evidence of drug abuse is planted
says grace
she lost her father and brother six
years ago
the mother of three now hopes that dr
fortune will shed more light on what
actually happened
when
when the
civilian
is shouting
give
my father
one shot again
to sure
she's the he's dead
the the civilian planted my father
gone
uh
two pieces of drug sachet
and money
that's why if you have a gun is fight
back
that's the reason that my father killed
because it's but fight back
the poor were the primary victims of the
war on drugs
the international criminal court
estimates that up to thirty thousand
people more than four times the official
number were killed on former president
duterte's watch
many relatives now want to set the
record straight
this catholic priest is doing his part
to support them
referent flaviano villanueva pays for
the exhumations and for legal advice
he fears that the killings even with
duterte gone are far from over
in the past two weeks
we have counted at least
eight or nine
killings
to this
very present day
my point
there's no difference between back then
and today
to make matters worse i believe that the
culture of killing has not only been
ingrained
but it has also become sadly
an organized enterprise
so
the war on drugs
is a complete failure
if it has one
success it left families
broken
without an orphan
the drugs continue
the drugs are cheaper these days
dr fortune is convinced that the true
toll of the war on drugs will never come
to light
too many of those who lost their lives
remain unidentified and unclaimed
but she hopes that her discoveries will
bring a semblance of justice
to the families who remain behind
joining me now for more is journalist
anna santos who has covered former
president rodrigo duterte's war on drugs
anna welcome we have a situation here
where you have authorities who have
essentially falsified evidence to
potentially hide guilt
can people realistically expect justice
when it's the authorities themselves who
are involved
perez right now i think that justice is
going to be very difficult and we talk
about justice you know in the sense of
accountability and bringing those people
responsible to account that's going to
be really difficult right now number one
we have president marcos jr and
duterte's daughter sarah duterte as vice
president they're seen very much as
continuity candidates and continuity
legislators so we see them as continuing
the policies of the duterte
administration including the war on
drugs second to that there have been
pronouncements by the philippine
national police and also the law
enforcement authorities saying that
they're very happy with how the war on
drugs was carried out under the duterte
administration and they have asked
president marcos jr to carry out the
same policy and even intensify it so
it's going to be a very difficult
environment for justice because we see a
lot of impunity still happening under
this government just help us understand
why it is so easy to be able to falsify
a death in the philippines you have to
remember that the war on drugs was
really categorically targeting a lot of
the poor young men
all right they live in enchanted
communities and in these communities
they would be gunned down in their homes
for example by mass vigilantes or
sometimes they would go missing you know
we've spoken to relatives who would hunt
for for their for their loved ones for a
whole evening and finally find them in
some morgue now their bodies would not
be released to them if they didn't sign
off on a medical certificate that just
said another cause of death like a
natural
disease like pneumonia or something like
this so that was the predicament that
these families faced now what would you
do if you had like you wanted to claim
you the body of your loved one you were
scared you didn't have money to pay for
a proper autopsy
that's that's wouldn't you just sign off
on this paper just to be able to grieve
onwards
what has it been like for the
relatives of these people who have been
killed i mean i know you've met many of
them they just demonstrated what has it
been like for them to lose a member of
their family
indescribable
i think would be the best way to to say
that there's no words for how they would
just
lose their loved ones
we have met mothers who have lost
two three sons
to the drug war
and can you just imagine what that would
feel like for someone to just have your
sons gunned down like that like they
meant nothing
so i think now more than justice yes we
will continue to fight for that and
human rights advocates and the families
of the grieving have said that they will
continue to advocate and fight for
justice
but in the meantime what they want now
is the right to grieve
the right for their loved ones to be
remembered and in so remembering
none of us will forget the extrajudicial
killings and gross human rights
violations under the duterte
administration and which may carry out
through the marcus duterte
administration now
anna santos we leave it there thanks so
much for coming into the studio thank
you baris
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