Death-squad boss elected president of Philippines? | World War 4 Report

28.5.16

Death-squad boss elected president of Philippines? | World War 4 Report:

But his rape jokes are cast in a much more sinister light given his
apparent links to actual human rights atrocities. Duterte has
equivocated on whether he actually does command the paramilitaries. But
in an interview with a local TV station
last year, he openly admitted his link to the notorious Davao Death
Squad (DDS). "They say I am the death squad? True, that is true,"
Duterte said. The DDS is allegedly responsible for the killing of more
than 1,000 suspected criminals in the city since Duterte became mayor in
1988. Unlike Trump, however, Duterte's roots (at least) are on the
political left, and he's posed himself as a champion of the poor and
common people against the traditional ruling elite of the Philippines.
But his growing emphasis on a hardline anti-crime stance seems to be blurring the lines between
left and right. In any case, interntional human rights groups should be
watching very closely for an expansion of paramilitary activity in the
Philippines.

be watching very closely for an expansion of paramilitary activity in the Philippines.