Catholic nuns hold placards as they protest against what organisers say
are drug-related extrajudicial killings, during the International Human Rights
Day in Manila, Philippines December 10, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Ezra Acayan
The
United States has not renewed a major aid package to the Philippines because of
“significant concerns” about the rule of law under President Rodrigo Duterte,
the US embassy said on Thursday. The United States has been a vocal critic of
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, which has claimed more
than 5,000 lives since he took office
“This
decision reflects the Board’s significant concerns around rule of law and civil
liberties in the Philippines,” embassy spokeswoman Molly Koscina said in a
statement emailed to AFP after the country was not selected for a new
Millennium Challenge Corporation grant.
The
previous five-year grant, which was worth US433.9 million, expired in May this
year.
The US
government set up the Millennium Challenge Corporation to promote economic
growth and reduce poverty around the world.
However
countries can only qualify if they “demonstrate a commitment to just and
democratic governance, investments in its people, and economic freedom,”
according to the corporation’s website.
The
United States has been a vocal critic of Duterte’s war on drugs, which has
claimed more than 5,000 lives since he took office nearly six months ago.
Duterte
has insisted that police are only killing in self-defense
The
criticism, including from President Barack Obama, has severely strained ties
between the longtime allies.
Duterte
has in response branded Obama a “son of a whore” and told him to “go to hell”,
while seeking to establish closer ties with US rivals China and Russia.
Philippine
police have reported killing 2,086 people in anti-drug operations since Duterte
took office on June 30. More than 3,000 others have been killed in unexplained
circumstances, according to official figures.
Often
masked assailants break into shanty homes and kill people who have been tagged
as drug traffickers or drug users. Rights groups have warned of a breakdown in
the rule of law with police and hired assassins operating with complete
impunity.
Duterte
has insisted that police are only killing in self-defense and gangsters are
murdering the other victims.
But he
has also said he will not allow any police to go to jail if they are found
guilty of murder in prosecuting his crime war.
This week
Duterte said he had personally killed suspected criminals when he was mayor of
a southern city to set an example for police.
In
September Duterte likened himself to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler as he said he was
“happy to slaughter” three million drug users.
After
condemnation from Jewish groups, Duterte apologized for his Hitler reference
but said he was “emphatic” about wanting to kill the millions of drug users.
By Agence France-Presse
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