Speculation is running rampant in the Philippines regarding Duterte’s health, not to mention political forces aiming to see him removed.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year single term is scheduled to end in 2022, but there has been speculation about his capability to finish his mandate.
In the past 30 years, two of five Philippine presidents have been removed from office through “People Power” uprisings. That means there’s always a possibility that the incumbent president could suffer the same fate. In the case of Duterte, many of his critics believe this is a realistic possibility and that either resignation or forced removal could end Duterte’s term early. Some have also suggested the president’s health is poor and could cut his presidency short.
Written for The Diplomat magazine. Read more…
The Philippines’ Extrajudicial Killing Problem
Extrajudicial killings in the Philippines are more than simply a product of the war on drugs.
On November 6, 2018, human rights lawyer Ben Ramos was gunned down on the central Philippine island of Negros. His killing was a reminder that extrajudicial killings have continued with impunity under the government of President Rodrigo Duterte, beyond the so-called war on drugs that continues to dominate headlines.
Duterte has gained international notoriety for waging a “war on drugs” that has killed thousands. Though the police say less than 5,000 have been killed during anti-drug operations, some human rights groups believe that the number has already reached more than 20,000
Written for The Diplomat magazine. Read more….
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