By Kristian Javier
MANILA, Philippines — Japan should condemn President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs and not condone it, international group Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday.
HRW Deputy Asia Director Phelim Kine said Tokyo turned a blind eye to the country's "abusive drug war" while the United States and the European Union have publicly criticized the rising cases of alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.
Duterte's crackdown on illegal drugs has left more than 7,000 suspected drug offenders — both from legitimate police operations and vigilante-style or unexplained killings, since he took office in June.
According to Kine, showing a lack of commitment in addressing human rights violations is not only a "wasted opportunity."
"It doubtlessly gives encouragement to a government that deems as 'inhuman' those slaughtered in its anti-drug campaign," Kine said in a dispatch released Friday.
Read the full story at The Philippine Star