Image copyright Reuters Image caption President Duterte has dismissed criticism of his anti-drugs policies

The Philippines independent human rights watchdog has said it will investigate claims by President Rodrigo Duterte that he personally killed drug suspects while mayor of Davao.

The Commission on Human Rights will also examine reports that so-called death squads killed several hundred people in the southern city.

Mr Duterte confirmed to the BBC last week that he shot dead three men.

Since being elected in May, he has waged a brutal anti-drugs crackdown.

Critics say he has encouraged police, vigilantes and mercenaries to shoot suspected drug dealers and users on sight. Nearly 6,000 people are said to have been killed.

Mr Duterte was mayor of Davao for two decades, during which time he earned a reputation for harshly suppressing crime and was accused of sponsoring death squads.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Senator Leila De Lima has said Mr Duterte could face impeachment for his claims

On Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said Mr Duterte's claims "clearly constitute murder" and he called on authorities to investigate.

Chito Gascon, who heads the Philippines Commission on Human Rights, said on Wednesday a team of investigators would look into the matter.

He told the BBC that a previous investigation into events in Davao, that concluded in 2012, had not found any evidence that Mr Duterte was directly involved in killings but the commission had recommended charges be filed against him "under the doctrine of command responsibility".

Prosecutors, however, had not taken up the recommendation.

"Now, with his admission... we are looking into new evidence that directly links Mr Duterte to the killings," he told the BBC's Newshour programme.

Duterte: The controversial 'strongman' of the Philippines

Duterte admits personally killing suspects

Rodrigo Duterte's controversial quotes

Mr Gascon added that Mr Duterte was immune from prosecution while in office.

But he added: "Even if we cannot file charges while Mr Duterte is president I think it is important that we do have a record and documentation [of events] so that at the time of appropriate reckoning we have the evidence preserved so that people may ultimately be held to account for what they have done."

Earlier this month, Mr Duterte told a group of business leaders that in Davao "I used to do it [kill] personally. Just to show to the guys [police] that if I can do it, why can't you".

His spokesman later dismissed the comments as "tough talk" and denied that Mr Duterte had killed anyone.

Image copyright AP Image caption Thousands of suspects have been rounded up in President Duterte's crackdown on drugs

But speaking to the BBC hours later, Mr Duterte said: "I killed about three of them... I don't know how many bullets from my gun went inside their bodies. It happened and I cannot lie about it."

One of the president's most strident critics in the Philippines, Senator Leila de Lima, has said his admission could be grounds for impeachment.

But on Wednesday, the government filed criminal charges against Ms de Lima, accusing her of trying to sabotage a congressional investigation into her alleged involvement in the drugs trade. She strongly denies any wrongdoing.

Earlier this week, Ms de Lima told the BBC that she feared for her life, but will not be silenced.

Mr Duterte has dismissed concerns over his anti-drugs policies.</s>The Philippines independent human rights watchdog said today it will investigate President Rodrigo Duterte’s admission he killed three criminals years ago, after the United Nation’s rights chief called for a murder probe. Duterte, who is waging an anti-drugs war that has left thousands dead, said last week that he helped police kill three suspected kidnappers early in the first of his several terms as mayor of the southern city of Davao.

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UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said Tuesday that Duterte’s killings, by his own admission, “clearly constitute murder” and Philippine judicial authorities must launch an investigation. Commission on Human Rights chief Jose Gascon said he has formed a team of investigators to look into the matter, even as Duterte’s spokesman Ernesto Abella dismissed the UN call as mere “opinion”.

“Law enforcement agencies…must investigate as a matter of course any information that suggests that a crime may have been committed with the view to ensuring that perpetrators are ultimately held accountable should the evidence warrant it,” Gascon said in a statement. The commission is an independent government body that prosecutes law enforcers or other officials who commit torture, extrajudicial killings or violate Filipinos’ constitutional rights.

The commission had investigated then Davao mayor Duterte over allegations he ran death squads that killed more than a thousand petty criminals there. Duterte has variously denied or confirmed the allegations. The commission did not file any criminal charges after completing its inquiry.

Gascon said his agency has “reconstituted a team to further investigate (Davao death squads) to look into the new revelations and public admissions that may shed light on our previous findings.” “The team will look into any matter that may further shed light on the killings in Davao that was the subject matter of our previous investigation.”

Duterte easily won presidential elections in May largely on a promise to eradicate illegal drugs in society by launching an unprecedented campaign in which tens of thousands of people would be killed. More than 5,300 people have died since he took office in late June, including 2,124 at the hands of police. The commission has said it is investigating several cases where police were responsible. Duterte insists police have not violated any law in killing drug suspects.</s>Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte called the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who this week called for an investigation into the killings the leader admitted to having committed during the 1980’s, an idiot. Duterte said last week he helped the police kill three alleged criminals, accused of raping and killing an Australian missionary in Davao while he was mayor of the city in the southern Philippines, Efe news reported on Friday.

The remarks added to the controversy surrounding the president, who has been severely criticised for the violent anti-drug campaign he launched after coming to office in June and which has caused around 6,100 deaths since then.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Tuesday urged the judicial authorities of the Philippines to launch a murder investigation against Duterte.

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Duterte responded to the demand by saying the UN has no right to criticise him.

“Who gave you the right to be (…) you lack knowledge of international law. We support the UN through our contributions, you stupid, (expletive) and I pay for your salary,” Duterte said on Thursday evening at an event with volunteers of the anti-drug campaign, ABS-CBN channel reported.

“Don’t speak as though I’m your employee. I am a member-state, a sovereign state, please shut up because you’re short on intelligence,” he added.

“You are just an employee there, you’re there by appointment. Got it? You are just employees of an office there whose subsidy comes from the pockets of the member-states, and you don’t have that authority to be… you strut around as if you are a sovereign, idiot!” he concluded.

Duterte has become known in diplomatic circles as an unusually foul-mouthed head of State, using colourful language to describe figures such as US President Barack Obama, whom he called a “son of a whore” on September 5.

On Thursday, the chairman of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, Jose Gascon, announced the formation of a team of investigators to probe Rodrigo’s killing claims.

Duterte won the May 9 presidential elections with the promise to rid the country of drugs in six months and began his six-year term on June 30.

Despite the criticism of his campaign on drugs, Duterte has received a net satisfaction rating of 63 per cent in his country, according to a poll published last week by Social Weather Stations, one of the most reputed polling firms in the Philippines.</s>Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a visit in Tarlac city in northern Philippines December 11, 2016. — Reuters picMANILA, Dec 22 — The Philippines’ independent rights watchdog said today it will investigate President Rodrigo Duterte’s boasts he killed criminals years ago, invoking a strong rebuke from the Filipino leader against a United Nations official who called for the murder probe.

Duterte, who is waging an anti-drugs war that has left thousands dead, said last week that he helped police kill three suspected kidnappers early in the first of his several terms as mayor of the southern city of Davao.

UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said Tuesday that Duterte’s killings, by his own admission, “clearly constitute murder” and Philippine judicial authorities must launch an investigation.

Duterte, known for his foul-mouthed outbursts, replied to Zeid’s call in a speech today with a stream of insults, describing the UN official as “either a joker or slightly unhinged” while stating that UN member-nations’ contributions pay the UN officials’ salaries.

“You, the officials sitting there. You assholes, we pay you your salary.

“You idiot, you do not tell me what to do. I am your employer and (you) do that, do it to a nation.”

“You do not talk to me like that you son of a bitch. Only the Filipinos can call me a son of a bitch if I’m remiss in my job.”

Philippine Commission on Human Rights chief Jose Gascon said earlier today he had formed a team of investigators to look into alleged past killings by Duterte.

“Law enforcement agencies... must investigate as a matter of course any information that suggests that a crime may have been committed with the view to ensuring that perpetrators are ultimately held accountable should the evidence warrant it,” Gascon said in a statement.

The commission is an independent government body that prosecutes law enforcers or other officials who commit torture, extrajudicial killings or violate Filipinos’ constitutional rights.

It had investigated then Davao mayor Duterte over allegations he ran death squads that killed more than a thousand petty criminals there.

Duterte has variously denied or confirmed the allegations. The commission did not file any criminal charges after completing its inquiry.

But Gascon said his agency had “reconstituted a team to further investigate (Davao death squads) to look into the new revelations and public admissions that may shed light on our previous findings.”

“The team will look into any matter that may further shed light on the killings in Davao that was the subject matter of our previous investigation.”

Duterte easily won presidential elections in May largely on a promise to eradicate illegal drugs in society by launching an unprecedented campaign in which tens of thousands of people would be killed.

More than 5,300 people have died since he took office in late June, including 2,124 at the hands of police. The commission has said it is investigating several cases where police were responsible.

Duterte insists police have not violated any law in killing drug suspects.

Yesterday, Duterte’s spokesman said his admission about the killing of three people referred to “legitimate police action” but did not address the fact the then mayor was not a police officer. — AFP</s>The Philippines independent human rights watchdog said Thursday it will investigate President Rodrigo Duterte’s admission he killed three criminals years ago, after the United Nation’s rights chief called for a murder probe.

Duterte, who is waging an anti-drugs war that has left thousands dead, said last week that he helped police kill three suspected kidnappers early in the first of his several terms as mayor of the southern city of Davao.

UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said Tuesday that Duterte’s killings, by his own admission, “clearly constitute murder” and Philippine judicial authorities must launch an investigation.

Commission on Human Rights chief Jose Gascon said he has formed a team of investigators to look into the matter, even as Duterte’s spokesman Ernesto Abella dismissed the UN call as mere “opinion”.

“Law enforcement agencies… must investigate as a matter of course any information that suggests that a crime may have been committed with the view to ensuring that perpetrators are ultimately held accountable should the evidence warrant it,” Gascon said in a statement.

The commission is an independent government body that prosecutes law enforcers or other officials who commit torture, extrajudicial killings or violate Filipinos’ constitutional rights.

The commission had investigated then Davao mayor Duterte over allegations he ran death squads that killed more than a thousand petty criminals there.

Duterte has variously denied or confirmed the allegations. The commission did not file any criminal charges after completing its inquiry.

Gascon said his agency has “reconstituted a team to further investigate (Davao death squads) to look into the new revelations and public admissions that may shed light on our previous findings.”

“The team will look into any matter that may further shed light on the killings in Davao that was the subject matter of our previous investigation.”

Duterte easily won presidential elections in May largely on a promise to eradicate illegal drugs in society by by launching an unprecedented campaign in which tens of thousands of people would be killed.

More than 5,300 people have died since he took office in late June, including 2,124 at the hands of police. The commission has said it is investigating several cases where police were responsible.

Duterte insists police have not violated any law in killing drug suspects.

On Wednesday Abella said Duterte’s admission about the killing of three people referred to “legitimate police action” but did not address the fact the then mayor was not a police officer.

Duterte has said he routinely carried a gun during his early years as mayor of Davao to protect himself from crime. He has not said if the weapon used in the ambush was licensed.

This post was syndicated from The Guardian NigeriaThe Guardian Nigeria. Click here to read the full text on the original website.

Also, Like us on facebook</s>The United Nations is catching up with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s human rights record, asking the country’s judicial authorities to launch an investigation.

That’s bad news for President Duterte and for financial markets, which have been crushed following his flip-flops on South China Sea disputes.

iShares Philippines is down 20.74 percent since last July; iShares for Vietnam, which which has also been involved in the dispute, have lost close to 15 percent of their value.

Obviously, investors are concerned about the rising economic and political risks of the country, and the prospects for the on-going economic integration of the region into the global economy — most notably China, which needs a market frontier for its manufacturing products.

Actually, the international institutions have been very fair with Philippines. For example, last July the nation won an international arbitration ruling, which found that China has no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea.

That was a big victory for both the US and Philippines, its close ally, which had filed the arbitration case.

But Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte didn’t capitalize on the ruling by having China compensate his country for the damage already done. Instead, he decided to side with China on the dispute, and seek a “divorce” from the US!

Apparently, President Duterte thought that his country is better off appeasing rather than confronting China.

Now, the UN has caught up with his human rights record. And he’s going to need China, an influential UN member, to come to his rescue.

Will Beijing do it?

It’s hard to say. So far there’s no official response from Beijing on the issue. In the meantime, investors in Philippines equities must keep a wary eye on Mr. Duterte’s next flip-flop. It may bring more losses.</s>A rights watchdog in the Philippines will investigate President Rodrigo Duterte’s claims that he killed criminals while serving as mayor of the city of Davao, the BBC reported on Wednesday. The Philippines Commission on Human Rights will also probe reports which claim that “death squads” killed several hundred people in the city.

The Commission’s head Chito Gascon said that while Duterte was immune from prosecution while serving as president, it was important to “have a record and documentation [of events]” for the purpose of preserving any available evidence. A previous investigation into the killings in Davao in 2012 had not found any evidence against Duterte even though the Commission had recommended charges against him “under the doctrine of command responsibility”, Gascon said.

On December 12, the president reportedly told businessmen that he murdered suspects to “show the guys [the police] that if I can do it, why can’t you?”. “I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill,” he said. Earlier in 2015, he had said that he had killed at least three men suspected of kidnapping and rape in Davao.

On Tuesday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein had said the Philippines should investigate Duterte’s claims. The UN official had said the killings would “clearly constitute murder”. “It should be unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer,” he said.</s>Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is to be investigated by an independent human rights group after he admitted killing three criminals years ago.

Mr Duterte said last week he had helped police kill three suspected kidnappers while he was mayor of the southern city of Davao.

The United Nations Human Rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, called for an investigation in the Philippines, saying the killings “clearly constitute murder”.

Now, the head of the country’s Commission on Human Rights, Jose Gascon, says he has formed a team of investigators to look into the matter.

“Law enforcement agencies… must investigate as a matter of course any information that suggests that a crime may have been committed with the view to ensuring that perpetrators are ultimately held accountable should the evidence warrant it,” Mr Gascon said in a statement.

Mr Duterte’s spokesman, Ernesto Abella, dismissed the UN call as “opinion”, and said the story about the killing of three people referred to “legitimate police action”.

But he did not address the fact that the then mayor was not a police officer.

Mr Duterte has been waging a tough campaign against drug dealers since winning the presidency.

More than 5,300 people have died since he took office in June, including 2,124 at the hands of the police.

Mr Duterte has insisted police have not violated any law by killing drug suspects.

The commission is an independent government body which can prosecute law enforcers or other officials who commit torture or extrajudicial killings, or violate constitutional rights.

It has already investigated Mr Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao after allegations he ran death squads that killed more than 1,000 petty criminals.

At various stages, Mr Duterte has denied and confirmed the allegations.

After completing its inquiry, the commission did not file any criminal charges.</s>MANILA: The Philippines Rodrigo independent human rights watchdog said on Thursday it will investigate President Rodrigo Duterte's admission he killed three criminals years ago, after the United Nation's rights chief called for a murder probe. Duterte, who is waging an anti-drugs war that has left thousands dead, said last week that he helped police kill three suspected kidnappers early in the first of his several terms as mayor of the southern city of Davao.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Star Online.</s>The Philippines’ independent human rights watchdog says it will investigate President Rodrigo Duterte’s admission that he killed three suspected criminals while he was mayor of Davao, after the UN’s human rights chief called for a murder probe.

The chief of the Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights, Jose Gascon, said he has formed a team of investigators to look into the matter.

“Law enforcement agencies... must investigate as a matter of course any information that suggests that a crime may have been committed with the view to ensuring that perpetrators are ultimately held accountable should the evidence warrant it,” Gascon said in a statement released on Thursday, as quoted by AFP.

He went on to state that the commission has “reconstituted a team to further investigate” allegations that, while serving as mayor of Davao, Duterte ran death squads that killed more than 1,000 petty criminals. The commission had previously looked into the matter, but did not file any criminal charges.

Gascon said the new team will “look into any matter that may further shed light on the killings in Davao that was the subject matter of our previous investigation.”

The Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights is an independent government body that prosecutes law enforcement officers or other officials who carry out torture or extrajudicial killings, or violate the constitutional rights Filipino citizens.

Gascon’s remarks come just a day after the UN’s high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, said that Duterte should be investigated for murder.

“The killings committed by Mr. Duterte, by his own admission... clearly constitute murder,” Hussein said in a statement on Wednesday. “It should be unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer,” he added.

Duterte first said that he had killed at least three men suspected of kidnapping and rape in Davao in 2015, the year before he was elected president.

The president repeated the claim that he had “personally” killed suspected criminals during a speech earlier this month.

“In Davao, I used to do it personally,” he said. “Just to show the guys that, if I can do it, why can’t you?”

“And I’d go around in Davao with a motorcycle, with a big bike around, and I would just patrol the streets, looking for trouble also. I was really looking for a confrontation so I could kill,” he said.



Duterte, who came to power in May on a promise to eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines, has been sharply criticized by the US, the European Union, and the United Nations for carrying out a violent “war on drugs,” which has led to the deaths of more than 4,500 people.

However, Duterte has vowed to continue the campaign as long as he is president, denying that it violates human rights, while firing back at those who disapprove.

His list of critics includes outgoing US President Barack Obama. Duterte even admitted earlier this month that he had faked an illness during the recent APEC summit to avoid meeting Obama, who he had previously called a “son of a b**ch/whore” and told to “go to hell.”

In November, Duterte lashed out at European lawyers, saying that they have “brains like a pea,” while asserting that Western courts are “bulls**t.”

Moreover, in September, Duterte called UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon a “devil” and accused the EU of condemning his war on drugs “in atonement” for its own sins, delivering a “f**k you” message to the 28-member bloc.
The Commission on Human Rights launches an investigation into alleged murders committed by current Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte.