Philippines: Over 80 people killed over past 3 days after President Duterte said he wanted to see dozens of bodies per day

(Manila)  Not content with the ongoing crisis in the south of the country where after 3 months the battle for the city of Marawi still continues. Death toll as of the 13th August:

562 militants killed
9 militants captured
128 government forces killed
60 government forces missing
900 government forces wounded
119 civilians dead 

President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs continues unabated  with over 80 people killed by the Police over the past few days. Police operations in various parts of Bulacan, a province north of the capital, left 32 “drug dealers/users killed and over 100 others arrested.

Duterte has praised the operation in Bulacan, which took place from Monday night until Tuesday afternoon, and urged police to kill dozens of drug suspects every day.

“The ones who died recently in Bulacan, 32, in a massive raid, that was good,” Duterte said in a speech to an anti-crime organisation that has backed the drugs war. “If we could kill another 32 every day, then maybe we can reduce what ails this country.”

Naturally Human rights groups have complained about the killings of so many people associated with drugs  by saying he may be overseeing crimes against humanity in his brutal anti-drugs campaign, which has left thousands dead. In return Duterte  has said he would investigate human rights defenders criticising him, or order officers to kill them.

“One of these days, you human rights groups, I will also investigate you. That’s the truth. For conspiracy,” If they are obstructing justice, you shoot them, So they can really see the kind of human rights.”