How populist Rodrigo Duterte continues to shock the Philippines

Duterte’s war on drugs, which he has promised to complete in his six months as president, has continued despite the pandemic. According to a report by Human Rights Watch, it escalated “significantly” during the 2020 lockdown. According to the report, the campaign targeted impoverished Filipinos, mainly in urban areas, with police and unidentified gunmen affiliated with this force committed thousands of extrajudicial killings. The war on drugs has so far killed more than 6,000 people, according to government figures, but human rights groups estimate the death toll to be much higher. Judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague on September 15 authorized an investigation into possible crimes against humanity in the war on drugs, despite Mr. protest in 2019. Mr. Duterte, in his September 21 speech to the United States. The General Assembly of Nations has criticized outside interference and said anyone who “acts off-limits” in the war on drugs will be “responsible” by the Philippine justice system. The ICC suspended the investigation on November 18 while it assessed the government’s request to postpone the Philippines’ own investigation.