Death toll from drug war in the Philippines rises to 1800

Newly elected President Rodrigo Duterte’s mission to cleanse the Philippines from drug crime has led to 1800 deaths in the seven weeks following his election.

A total of 712 of the drug suspects were killed in police operations while the remaining majority of deaths at 1067 were caused by vigilante groups according to National Police Chief Ronald De la Rosa at a Senate Committee hearing.

The president has been referred to as “The punisher” or “Duterte harry” for his steamroll approach for his anti-drugs campaign which has led to 600,000 suspects turning themselves in. The 71-year-old leader has encouraged citizens to kill suspected drug dealers. "Shoot him and I'll give you a medal," Duterte said in June, according to a report by the Associated Press (AP).

The mass killings have sparked alarm among human-rights groups, including UN-appointed human-rights experts who have urged Duerte to stop the killings. In response, on 21 August he threatened to leave the UN but Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay has since confirmed that this was not going to happen. According to Yasay, the president was merely expressing his “profound…frustrations”.

His tirade against the drug problem on the island is of utmost importance to the president, putting his job on the line in order to curb trade in crystal meth. The country has the highest consumption rate of methamphetamine, locally known as “shabu”, in the region at an estimated 2% of the 100m population.

The president formerly served as the mayor of the city of Davao for more than two decades. He implemented the same hardball tactics during his term, which provided positive results transforming the city into a crime free place.

The Chair of the Senate committee Leila De Lima seems to think otherwise. “The blatant disregard for human life has got to stop,” said De Lima. She's concerned that some law enforcers and vigilantes are using the campaign to "commit murder with impunity," with many of the killings being carried out illegally, according to a report by AP.

Despite these deaths Duerte has continued support from segments of the Filipino community due to their frustration with the country’s deeply embedded corruption and culture of impunity.