The Philippines’ Ongoing War on Drugs
The Philippines' war on drugs was launched by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. The campaign aimed to eliminate drug use and trade in the country, and during Duterte’s presidency it was characterised by a hardline approach that included various human abuses such as extrajudicial killings, unlawful arrests, and other atrocities.
The campaign was criticised both domestically and internationally for the high number of killings and human rights violations. According to official government data, over 6,000 people were killed in the campaign, but others estimate the number to be much higher. Critics have argued that the campaign has resulted in the violation of due process and human rights, and that it disproportionately has targeted low-level drug users and small-time drug dealers, while leaving big drug syndicates largely untouched. The campaign was also criticised for targeting marginalised communities, with many of the victims being poor and living in deprived areas. However, victims of the drug war also included those outside the drug trade and included lawyers, activists and senators who challenged the drug war, with Duterte using the drug war as a cover to go after those who threatened his power. For example, one UN report found that from 2015 to 2019, close to 250 human rights activists, journalists and other Duterte opponents were killed in relation to their work, with the country also frequently ranked amongst the deadliest for journalists during Duterte’s time in office. These human rights abuses were so widespread that the ICC launched an investigation into atrocities committed during the war on drugs by the Duterte administration, which is still ongoing.
Despite the criticisms, Duterte has remained unapologetic about the campaign, arguing that it was necessary to protect the country from the dangers of drug use and trade. The campaign also enjoyed strong public support in the Philippines, with many Filipinos believing that it has been necessary to tackle the country's long-standing drug problem.
Since the end of Duterte’s presidency, questions have been raised regarding the effectiveness of the war on drugs and whether it will continue under new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. During his presidential campaign, Marcos promised to dial back the country’s drug war and focus more on prevention and rehabilitation rather than punishment. However, for many within the Philippines there is little hope for change given that Marcos Jr is the son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled the Philippines for over 20 years with a plethora of human rights abuses, which still haunts the Philippines to this day. Marcos has done little to address abuses committed during his father’s rule and has even been accused of denialism and revising history in his family’s favour, which has been met with protests. In addition to this, the Marcos family are believed to have close ties with Duterte, given that Duterte authorised the controversial burial of Marcos Sr at the National Heroes Cemetery and because Marcos Jr selected Sara Duterte, the daughter of Duterte, as his vice-president.
Under Marcos, the killings have not stopped either, as since becoming president in June 2022, it has been found by a watchdog that close to 100 people were killed in the first 3 months alone, a number that has likely increased since then. Accompanying this have been attempts by the police to minimise these killings and to undercount drug-related deaths since Marcos took office. His administration has also attempted to hinder the efforts of the ICC, requesting that it halt its aforementioned investigation into atrocities committed during the drug war. Marcos himself spoke out against the ICC investigation, labelling it as an “intrusion into our internal matters” and a “threat to sovereignty”, declaring that any judgement from the ICC would be illegitimate. Likewise, Marcos’ Justice Secretary expressed similar sentiments in a speech before the UN, displaying zero tolerance for the efforts of the ICC. In its defence, the Marcos administration has said that it is conducting its own investigation into atrocities committed during the war on drugs, however these claims were found to be questionable by the ICC prosecutor’s office, who found little evidence of perpetrators being brought to justice.
Despite international pressure and calls for accountability, progress on human rights and the war on drugs in the Philippines has been slow. Many human rights defenders and journalists continue to face threats, harassment, and even death, despite Marcos’ promises to improve the situation. Local human rights organisations and victims have been calling for reforms and accountability for perpetrators of abuses, while international organisations such as the UN have also been monitoring the situation and calling for action by the Marcos administration, which so far has done little to change the course set by Duterte.