FILE - In this Friday, July 1, 2016, file photo, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the troops during a military ceremony in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. President Duterte in a speech late Thursday acknowledged abuses in a battle against illegal drugs, which has left more than 400 suspects dead and alarmed rights activists, but is not backing down from a shoot-to-kill order for drug suspects. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File) (The Associated Press)
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine president has acknowledged abuses in a battle against illegal drugs, which has left more than 400 suspects dead and alarmed rights activists, but is not backing down from a shoot-to-kill order for drug suspects.
President Rodrigo Duterte said in a speech late Thursday that most drug dealers and addicts slain in gunbattles with police had put up a fight, but added that he was sure some were "salvaged," a local term for extrajudicial killings usually by law enforcers.
In the case of illegal killings, Duterte said the government will investigate.
Early Friday, he said he gave "shoot-to-kill" orders against drug dealers including politicians involved in the illicit trade.
A legal expert, Jose Manuel Diokno, says such an order is, at the least, legally questionable.
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