Friday, Mar 29, 2024 | Last Update : 05:46 PM IST

  World   South Asia  20 Dec 2016  Investigate Philippines' Duterte for killings: UN rights chief

Investigate Philippines' Duterte for killings: UN rights chief

AP
Published : Dec 20, 2016, 5:41 pm IST
Updated : Dec 20, 2016, 6:34 pm IST

Over 6000 people have fallen victim to extrajudicial killings since President Duterte had taken office in June.

UN Human Rights Commission Chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein. (Photo: AP)
 UN Human Rights Commission Chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein. (Photo: AP)

Manila: The UN Human Rights Commission chief has asked Philippines’ authorities to investigate President Rodrigo Duterte for murder after he claimed to have killed people in the past and also look into the "shocking number of killings" under his brutal crackdown on illegal drugs which has left more than 6,000 people dead.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a statement issued in Geneva on Tuesday that Philippine judicial authorities "must demonstrate their commitment to upholding the rule of law and their independence from the executive by launching a murder investigation," adding it's "unthinkable for any functioning judicial system not to launch investigative and judicial proceedings when someone has openly admitted being a killer."

Such calls have enraged Duterte and will likely face opposition from his officials.

Tags: high commissioner for human rights, united nations, rodrigo duterte, war on drugs
Location: Philippines, National Capital Reg, Manila