In The Philippines, Government Extrajudicial Killings Are Escalating

An image of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on an electronic board during his second state of the nation address at the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines, Monday July 24, 2017. Duterte said he will not stop his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs and warns that addicts and dealers have two choices: jail or hell.
An image of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on an electronic board during his second state of the nation address at the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines in July. Duterte said he will not stop his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs and warns that addicts and dealers have two choices: jail or hell. Aaron Favila / AP Photo
An image of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on an electronic board during his second state of the nation address at the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines, Monday July 24, 2017. Duterte said he will not stop his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs and warns that addicts and dealers have two choices: jail or hell.
An image of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seen on an electronic board during his second state of the nation address at the House of Representatives in suburban Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines in July. Duterte said he will not stop his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs and warns that addicts and dealers have two choices: jail or hell. Aaron Favila / AP Photo

In The Philippines, Government Extrajudicial Killings Are Escalating

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Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte makes international headlines for his abrasive style and violent methods in dealing with crime.

Nicknamed “Duterte Harry” and “The Punisher’, he has threatened to personally kill suspected drug dealers and drug users. Local media print “kill lists” of extrajudicial killings, in the thousands, by his police and security forces. Some even accuse Duterte’s forces of killing politicians who lose his favor.

We talk about Duterte’s bloody methods with Phelim Kine, deputy director in Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division.