The sanction of contract killings in the Philippines

In the Philippines, a new President’s war on drugs has turned a young mother into a killer for hire.

President Duterte presents a chart illustrating the drug trade network of

high level drug syndicates in the Philippines during a press conference, July 7, 2016

Photo: King Rodriguez/Presidential Communications Operation Office

When he ran for President early this year, Rodrigo Duterte promised Filipinos that 100,000 drug criminals would be killed during his first six months in office. He has sanctioned extra-judicial killings — and even offered bounties. The result has been a dramatic increase in homicides, including the killing of dead-beat customers by drug pushers — including police officers. Phelim Kine is Deputy Director of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch.