Rodrigo Duterte: Philippines president suggests deadly war on drug dealers will get even ‘bloodier’

Controversial leader pledges harsher crackdown to eradicate drugs
The Independent (UK)
Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte warned his signature anti-narcotics campaign will be even harsher in the future, signalling no let-up in a bloody crackdown that has alarmed the international community. Mr Duterte won the presidency by a wide margin in 2016 on promises of eradicating drugs and crime, and recent opinion polls indicate broad support for him and for the crackdown. The support has maintained despite widespread allegations of police cover-ups and summary killings resulting from weak intelligence. Critics, including the Catholic Church, say the campaign has overwhelmingly targeted the urban poor and left drug kingpins largely untouched.