Duterte says he won’t apologize for his deadly war on drugs – La Prensa Latina

Bangkok, Jan 5 (EFE).- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said in a cabinet meeting with experts he will never apologize for the thousands of deaths derived from the violent war on drugs he promoted since he took power in 2016.

I will never, never apologize for those deaths () Kill me, send me to prison, I will never ask for forgiveness, the president said Tuesday night during a televised meeting.

More than 6,200 people, alleged traffickers or drug addicts, have died during the anti-narcotics campaign, according to official data, while human rights organizations say the figure could be between 27,000 and 30,000 dead.

Duterte, whose sole six-year term expires in mid-2022, defended the actions of authorities, who shoot to kill in situations where drug suspects may have attacked them during raids.

In September, the International Criminal Court gave the green light to an investigation for crimes against humanity into the campaign promoted by Duterte. It temporarily suspended the investigations in November at the request of the Philippine government, which is conducting its own investigation of the operations.

The Philippine Justice Department said in October that medical analyzes of many of the 52 cases investigated would deny the official version that suspects drew their pistols before being killed by police.

Following this official report, Duterte assumed full responsibility for the acts, but said that he would only be tried by a court in his country. EFE

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Duterte says he won't apologize for his deadly war on drugs - La Prensa Latina