Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Tuesday that authorities in the Philippines continue to conduct extrajudicial killings without any accountability as part of the government’s anti-drug campaign, which has resulted in serious human rights violations against the victims and their families.
The organization stated that police officers in the Philippines continued to commit extrajudicial killings and conduct arbitrary arrests against suspects, sometimes without legal arrest warrants, which is reminiscent of security officers’ practices during the “war on drugs” under former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Additionally, accountability mechanisms remain weak and inadequate.
According to HRW, the number of killings in the anti-drug campaign has reached 1,273 since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president in 2022. The report noted a decline in the number of extrajudicial killings compared to rates under Duterte’s presidency, but found that illegal arrests have significantly increased.
HRW added that police raids have become more difficult to document as that they have often been conducted by officers dressed in civilian clothes, while masked gunmen have carried out killings, complicating investigations. Individuals also stated to HRW that they experienced harassment from police officers even after the arrest of their relatives, while others indicated that their family member was tortured during arrest, before going missing.
HRW called on authorities to end this aggressive anti-drug campaign and instead prosecute drug dealers following a rights-based approach that complies with legal norms and proceedings, while ensuring the protection of all Philippine citizens’ rights.
The Philippines long faced criticism for its drug war campaign launched by Duterte in 2016, which was marked by violence and a high number of extrajudicial killings of suspected drug users and dealers. In 2025, Duterte was arrested under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for alleged crimes against humanity related to his controversial war on drugs. The trial is scheduled for November 30, focusing on three counts of crimes against humanity: murder, torture, and rape. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant against Senator Ronald dela Rosa for alleged crimes against humanity due to his role in the anti-narcotics campaign under Duterte’s presidency. Dela Rosa filed a request to the Supreme Court to prevent national authorities from enforcing the ICC’s arrest warrant, but the court rejected his request.
Current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has previously pledged to shift the government’s punitive approach to the fight against drug trafficking by adopting a more holistic, human rights-based approach. In 2024, the Philippines launched the Drug Policy and Law Reform Summit, an initiative aimed at reforming the country’s drug policy and national laws. However, President Marcos continues to receive calls from organizations to cease continuing abuses and ensure accountability for all those involved in human rights violations.