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Duterte extends Philippine drug war to end of term in 2022 | Duterte extends Philippine drug war to end of term in 2022 |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has extended his war on drugs to the end of his term in 2022, as he promised to overhaul the "corrupt" police force. | |
Mr Duterte had previously said his controversial campaign would only last several months into his presidency. | Mr Duterte had previously said his controversial campaign would only last several months into his presidency. |
Thousands of alleged drug suspects have died in state-sanctioned extra-judicial killings, mostly by police. | Thousands of alleged drug suspects have died in state-sanctioned extra-judicial killings, mostly by police. |
Several officers were also involved in a shocking kidnap and murder of a South Korean expatriate last year. | Several officers were also involved in a shocking kidnap and murder of a South Korean expatriate last year. |
Mr Duterte had initially promised to eradicate the country's drug problem by December, then extended the deadline to March this year. | Mr Duterte had initially promised to eradicate the country's drug problem by December, then extended the deadline to March this year. |
But he told reporters at a press conference late Sunday night: "I will extend it to the last day of my term... March no longer applies." | But he told reporters at a press conference late Sunday night: "I will extend it to the last day of my term... March no longer applies." |
In the Philippines, presidents only serve one term of six years. | In the Philippines, presidents only serve one term of six years. |
He said that the latest extension was necessary as he had underestimated the depth of the drug problem in the Philippines. | He said that the latest extension was necessary as he had underestimated the depth of the drug problem in the Philippines. |
His hardline stance on the national war on drugs has attracted intense criticism from human rights groups and Western countries, although he continues to enjoy a high level of support among Filipinos. | His hardline stance on the national war on drugs has attracted intense criticism from human rights groups and Western countries, although he continues to enjoy a high level of support among Filipinos. |
'Corrupt to the core' | 'Corrupt to the core' |
Mr Duterte also railed against the police force on Sunday and vowed to "cleanse" it, in response to the high-profile killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in October. | Mr Duterte also railed against the police force on Sunday and vowed to "cleanse" it, in response to the high-profile killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in October. |
Jee Ick-joo was seized in October from his home in Angeles city, near Manila, under the pretence of a drug raid, the Department of Justice said. After strangling him, his killers pretended he was still alive in order to collect a ransom from his family. | Jee Ick-joo was seized in October from his home in Angeles city, near Manila, under the pretence of a drug raid, the Department of Justice said. After strangling him, his killers pretended he was still alive in order to collect a ransom from his family. |
"You policemen are the most corrupt. You are corrupt to the core. It's in your system," Mr Duterte said, adding that he thought up to 40% of policemen were used to corruption. | "You policemen are the most corrupt. You are corrupt to the core. It's in your system," Mr Duterte said, adding that he thought up to 40% of policemen were used to corruption. |
Mr Duterte had sanctioned extra-judicial killings previously, saying he would pardon policemen who kill criminals and civilians in the line of duty. | Mr Duterte had sanctioned extra-judicial killings previously, saying he would pardon policemen who kill criminals and civilians in the line of duty. |
"When I said I'll protect the police, I'll protect the police. But I won't protect lying," he said. | "When I said I'll protect the police, I'll protect the police. But I won't protect lying," he said. |
He said his re-organisation of the police force would see all anti-drug units dissolved. | He said his re-organisation of the police force would see all anti-drug units dissolved. |
A new command is expected to be formed within the Philippines' drug enforcement agency, reported Rappler. | A new command is expected to be formed within the Philippines' drug enforcement agency, reported Rappler. |