Photo shows the unfinished protest slogan that activists Marlon Naperi and Jemar Palero were spray-painting before they were killed in what Albay Police said was a shootout. Image from Facebook / Anakbayan
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Impunity among perpetrators has provided the breeding ground for extrajudicial killings and human rights violations to flourish in the Philippines under the Duterte administration鈥檚 drug war, according to Amnesty International.
In its report for 2021 to 2022, the human rights watchdog also lamented that human rights defenders, political activists, and politicians were subjected to unlawful killings, arbitrary arrest and detention, and harassment.
鈥淟ack of accountability continued to facilitate unlawful killings and other human rights violations under the government鈥檚 鈥榳ar on drugs campaign,鈥� AI stated.
Indigenous peoples were likewise targeted by attacks by authorities and unknown assailants, while inadequate access to healthcare 鈥渨orsened鈥� as COVID-19 infection rates rose, the report read.
鈥淓xtrajudicial executions and other human rights violations continued under the government鈥檚 ongoing 鈥榳ar on drugs. President Duterte continued to incite violence against people suspected of using or selling drugs,鈥� it further said.
Meanwhile, the watchdog also lamented the Department of Justice鈥檚 review of just 52 鈥渙ut of the thousands of cases involving killings by police during anti-drug operations.鈥�
鈥淎lthough the review was woefully inadequate and failed to meet international standards, its limited findings contradicted police claims that lethal force had been justified, and confirmed violations documented by local and international human rights groups,鈥� the report read.
Amnesty International also lamented other issues including the suspension of the International Criminal Court鈥檚 investigation of alleged crimes against humanity, red-tagging, detention of Senator Leila De Lima, charges against journalist Maria Ressa, efforts to reimpose the death penalty, and the House of Representatives鈥� passage of a bill amending the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, among other concerns.
The watchdog pointed out that the bill 鈥渃ontained provisions that could encourage arbitrary arrests and would violate the right to a fair trial, including the presumption of innocence of people accused of using or selling drugs.鈥�
黑料社 has reached out to聽Malaca帽ang through acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar for comment on Amnesty International鈥檚 report, but has not received a response as of posting.