Extra Judicial Killings in the Philippines and Human Rights

There is no death penalty under Philippine laws. Technically therefore, all murders and homicides committed in the country can be termed 'extra judicial', a reference which human rights advocates across the globe now use to bash the Duterte administration.

In almost 2 months of the Duterte presidency, more than 1,000 incidents of death under investigation (DUIs-murders and homicides) were recorded by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and this immediately leads to questionable human rights censure of the Philippines leadership in its anti illegal drugs and criminality campaigns. I say questionable censure because in the first 6 months alone of 2015 under the Aquino administration, more than 7,000 murders and more than 6,000 homicide cases, or a total of more than 13,000 deaths under investigation (DUIs) were registered by the PNP, and yet, the human rights advocates never raise a voice.

Under Duterte, out of the more than 1,000 DUIs, only more than 700 deaths of criminal suspects resulted from police operations from which more than 250 cases so far were cleared by the PNP Internal Affairs as legitimate violent encounters arising from

resistance to arrests, while the rests are still under review.

Considering the above circumstances then, is it fair for human rights advocates (including news outfits and political units) around the globe to OUTRIGHT condemn the Philippines leadeship?

For sure, most of the Filipinos now believe that there is an orchestrated effort from an 'interest group' to defame the popular Philippine President and weaken his leadership for ulterior political motives. Come what may, Duterte's adversaries must not underestimate his support from the vast majority of the populace.