Eight years ago, Rodrigo Duterte promised to crack down on drug users and traffickers, offering them immunity and ordering authorities to kill them. This led to a violent wave of summary executions, with tens of thousands of people killed by police and vigilantes.
Even after Duterte’s presidency ended, there has been little legal accountability for the killings. Only eight police officers have been imprisoned in connection with four cases. While the number of killings has decreased, a culture of violence and impunity still plagues the Philippines.
Recently, there has been more official attention on Duterte’s war on drugs. Lawmakers are conducting public hearings to address the violence, with over 20,000 drug war-related deaths reported in the first 18 months of Duterte’s term. Victims’ relatives are sharing their stories and advocating for justice.