Post by : Shakul

The Philippine government has announced a new investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte and his controversial anti-drug campaign. Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. confirmed that former national police chief Ronald dela Rosa will be summoned as part of the investigation. The move marks a major development in efforts to examine thousands of deaths that took place during the country’s anti-drug crackdown.

The killings happened during Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao City and later after he became president in 2016. Human rights organizations and several foreign governments had strongly criticized the anti-drug operations, claiming that many suspects were killed without proper legal process. Most of the victims were reportedly poor individuals accused of involvement in illegal drugs. Philippine authorities, however, repeatedly defended the operations by saying police officers acted in self-defense during raids and arrests.

Ronald dela Rosa played a central role in Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. Before becoming national police chief, he served as police chief in Davao City and was considered one of Duterte’s closest allies. He is currently serving as a senator in the Philippines. According to officials, he has been summoned for questioning as investigators begin reviewing the role of police leadership during the anti-drug operations. Reports had earlier suggested that dela Rosa could face possible arrest linked to investigations by the International Criminal Court.

Duterte himself was arrested in March 2025 and transferred to the Netherlands, where he is facing proceedings before the International Criminal Court over allegations of crimes against humanity. The ICC investigation focuses on thousands of killings connected to the anti-drug campaign. Duterte and several former police officials have consistently denied ordering unlawful killings and argued that law enforcement officers were targeting dangerous criminal suspects.

The Philippine government stated that the current local investigation is separate from the ICC proceedings. Interior Secretary Remulla said the investigation aims to establish accountability for what he described as one of the darkest periods in the country’s recent history. He said authorities want to determine the role played by senior police officers and whether state policies encouraged illegal actions during anti-drug operations. Officials have also alerted airports, seaports and other exit points across the country as the investigation moves forward.

A congressional inquiry conducted in 2024 had already recommended criminal charges against Duterte and several police officials linked to the anti-drug campaign. Human rights groups welcomed the new investigation and called it an important step toward justice for families of victims. Political analysts believe the investigation could have a major impact on Philippine politics because many supporters of Duterte still remain influential in the country.

The investigation is expected to attract global attention as the Philippines continues to face international pressure over human rights concerns. While supporters of Duterte argue that his anti-drug campaign helped reduce crime and restore order, critics say the operations created fear and weakened the rule of law. The coming weeks are likely to bring more legal and political developments as authorities continue questioning former officials connected to the controversial campaign.

#world news #Politics #Crime #GeoPolitics #Philippines