Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines since June 30, has continued his bloody war on illegal drugs, resulting in more than 2,000 violent deaths over the past two months at the hands of law enforcement, vigilante groups, and other unidentified actors. Human rights groups and the United Nations have condemned the extrajudicial killings, with the UN stating that the campaign amounts to a crime under international law. According to a report from Reuters, “close to 900 drug traffickers and users had been killed in police operations from July 1 to August 20 … on average 20 people a day.” Editor’s note: Many of the following images are graphic in nature.
The Philippine Drug Crackdown Has Claimed 2,000 Lives in Two Months
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Jennelyn Olayres, 26, cradles the body of her partner Michael Siaron, who was killed on a street by a vigilante group, according to police, in a spate of drug related killings in Pasay city, Metro Manila, Philippines, on July 23, 2016. Siaron was killed by suspected vigilantes acting on President Rodrigo Duterte's call to kill all the country's drug dealers. A sign written on cardboard found near the body reads "Pusher Ako", which translates to "I am a drug pusher." #
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Suspected drug users and drug dealers are arrested by police during a raid on a suspected drug den on June 16, 2016 in Manila. Philippine police have been conducting night raids almost on a daily basis and revived a curfew for minors that had not been enforced for years, rounding up minors drinking on the streets. #
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Click to view imageA suspected drug dealer lies dead on the ground as a police crime scene operative gathers forensic evidence after three suspected drug pushers were killed when a drug bust operation ended in a shootout with authorities in Manila early on June 25, 2016. #
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In this photograph taken on July 23, 2016, a chalk outline remains on a street in Manila after funeral personnel removed the body of an unidentified man killed by unidentified gunmen. #
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This photo taken on August 27, 2016 shows an alleged drug pusher sitting on a sofa after he was detained by for possession of illegal drugs during a police operation in Manila. #
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A member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) investigation unit shows confiscated methamphetamine, known locally as Shabu, along with Philippines pesos seized from suspected drug pushers during an operation by the police in Quiapo city, metro Manila, on July 3, 2016. #
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Philippine Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) work at the scene where two suspects were shot dead following an encouter and shootout with police at a checkpoint along a highway in Manila on August 28, 2016. #
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Witnesses wait for their turn to testify in the continuing Senate probe on the rising number of extrajudicial killings related to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's "War on Drugs" on August 23, 2016 in suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. Philippine senators opened an inquiry into the killings of some 2,000 suspected drug dealers and users amid a crackdown spearheaded by Duterte. #
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Philippine National Police PO2 Alipio Balo Jr., left, and PO1 Michael Tomas, arrive to testify in the continuing Senate probe on the rising number of extrajudicial killings on August 23, 2016 in Pasay city. Balo Jr. and Tomas were implicated in the killings of a father and son inside a police station. #
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A Philippine Scene of the Crime Operative works at the scene where two suspects were shot dead following an encouter and shootout with police at a checkpoint along a highway in Manila on August 28, 2016. #
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Residents transport two bodies on a trolley after police said they were killed by policemen after they fought back during an illegal drug "Shabu" (Meth) operation in Manila on August 18, 2016. #
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Human rights activists light candles for the victims of extra-judicial killings around the country in the wake of the "War on Drugs" campaign on August 15, 2016 in suburban Quezon city, Philippines. #
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This picture taken on July 21, 2016 shows inmates sleeping in the open basketball court inside the Quezon City jail in Manila. More than 3,800 inmates are stuffed into a facility built to house just 800. Philippine officials said on August 9 that the government would build new jails to address severe congestion made worse by President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, describing conditions as "inhumane" and "unacceptable". #
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Arrested and surrendered drug dependents and small time peddlers are held in a police gymnasium during a mass arrest on August 20, 2016 in Manila. Around 900,000 were arrested or have surrendered to police authorities in saturation drives around the metro. #
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Residents involved with illegal drugs wait for fellow surrenderees before taking a pledge that they will not use or sell "Shabu" (Meth) again after surrendering to police and government officials in Makati, metro Manila, Philippines, on August 18, 2016. #
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A Philippine Scene of the Crime Operative stands beside a body and a weapon at the scene where two suspects were shot dead following an encouter and shootout with police in Manila on August 28, 2016. #
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One-year-old Emuel Sison is pictured at the wake of his father Eric Quintinita Sison in Pasay city, Metro Manila on August 29, 2016. Family members of Sison said Eric was attempting to surrender when he was gunned down by the police during a recent Meth buy bust operation in Pasay city. #
Erik de Castro / Reuters
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