Philippine's Rodrigo Duterte urged to drop charges against leading war on drugs critic

Human Rights Watch has demanded the Philippines drop “politically motivated” charges against a fierce critic of a war on drugs that has killed over 7,700 people in the last seven months.

Senator Leila de Lima faces arrest over the next few days on drugs-related charges. The former justice minister, and political nemesis of President Rodrigo Duterte, has repeatedly denounced a bloody wave of extrajudicial killings since his crackdown on drugs began last July.

“The prosecution of Senator Leila de Lima is an act of political vindictiveness that debases the rule of law in the Philippines,” said Phelim Kine, HRW deputy Asia director.

“The Duterte administration seems intent on using the courts to punish prominent critics of its murderous ‘war on drugs.’”

Her imminent arrest comes as the drugs war enters a new phase.

The country’s military chief, General Eduardo Ano, said on Sunday that the army is to create a “battalion size” task force of up to 5,000 soldiers to help the government’s anti-narcotics agency run after high-value targets.

Duterte ordered the military to play a role in his crackdown after police drug squads were suspended last month over corruption charges and the murder of a South Korean businessman.

De Lima, who denies the charges against her, has called in the past for an international investigation into “state-inspired” extrajudicial murders. She has expressed fears that her own life is in danger because of her outspoken views.

“I have long prepared myself to be a political prisoner under this regime,” she said in a statement over the weekend after the charges were filed.

“If the loss of my freedom is the price I have to pay for standing up against the butchery of the Duterte regime, then it is a price I am willing to pay,” she said. “But they are mistaken if they think my fight ends here. It has only begun.”