MANILA, Philippines — Extrajudicial killings have been the chief human rights concern in the Philippines for many years and, after a sharp rise with the onset of the anti-drug campaign in 2016, these continued in 2018 with an average of six persons killed daily in operations against illegal drugs, according to the latest annual United States Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. “There were numerous reports that government security agencies and their informal allies committed arbitrary or unlawful killings in connection with the government-directed campaign against illegal drugs,” the 2018 report released yesterday said. In a March 2018 speech, President Duterte ordered security forces not to respond to any probe or investigation request on human rights abuses in the country. The ICC expressed regret over the Philippines’ move and encouraged the country to remain part of the ICC. Bensouda said the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC would become effective on Sunday or a year after the government deposited its withdrawal with the UN.

Source: Philippine Star March 14, 2019 16:00 UTC