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Amnesty International accuses PNP of planned extrajudicial killings

Rights group Amnesty International, in a report has accused the Philippine police of “systematically planning” extrajudicial killings in the controversial war against drugs, saying the killings may constitute “crimes against humanity”.

More than 7,000 have been killed since President Rodrigo Duterte launched his “war” on the drug trade in July.

The President has always defended the crackdown, saying police were only authorized to open fire when threatened by suspects.

But on Monday, the president suspended it and ordered a “clean-up” of the police force following the murder of a South Korean businessman by a group of rogue anti-drug police officers, reported BBC.com.

There has been no government reaction to the Amnesty report, but the Philippine police have also consistently said those killed were resisting arrest.

Amnesty disputed this based on witness testimony and independent investigations, saying it was “deeply concerned that the deliberate and widespread killings of alleged drug offenders….appear to be systematic, planned and organized by the authorities”.

“Police officers routinely bust down doors in the middle of the night and then kill in cold blood unarmed people suspected of using or selling drugs.

Amnesty also said officers planted evidence and falsified reports to “cover their tracks”.

The rights group said the vast majority of those killed were poor and on “drug watch lists” prepared by government officials and shared with police.

It said the lists were “deeply problematic” and that names could be put on it “based on hearsay and community rumor or rivalry, with little to no verification”.

The group spoke to 110 people for the report including witnesses of killings, victims’ relatives, drug users, police officers, and members of government, civil society and religious groups, reported the news portal.

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