Former President Rodrigo Duterte files his certificate of candidacy for Davao City mayor on October 7, 2024. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Rodrigo Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for Davao City mayor must be canceled as he was linked to the drug war killings during his presidency, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) chair and senatorial aspirant Danilo Ramos said on Monday.
In a statement, Ramos said Duterte should be held accountable for his alleged “high crimes against humanity.”
READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH
“It should no longer be a puzzle if Duterte will be allowed to run in the upcoming election after the confirmation that he directly initiated the bloody war against illegal drugs,” he said in Filipino.
“It will not be acceptable for someone involved in serious cases of human rights violations to run in the election,” he added.
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During the hearing of the House of Representatives’ Quad Committee last Friday, Oct. 11, retired police colonel Royina Garma alleged that Duterte and other high-ranking officials during his administration sanctioned covert operations replicating the Davao City model of extrajudicial killings on a national scale.
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Based on reports, Duterte’s war on drugs left at least 6,000 people dead, but human rights groups and advocates claim that the number may have reached 20,000.
Duterte and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who was the chief of the Philippine National Police during the Duterte administration, were among the respondents to the crimes against humanity case pending before the International Criminal Court.
Ramos said the public should be wary of Duterte’s “plan to evade accountability and ultimately return to power.”
In a press conference also held on Monday, Makabayan senatorial aspirants called for the accountability of Duterte and “to address the critical issues related to the political dynasty that undermines genuine democratic representation.”
Among the aspirants who made the call was Ramos, who already filed his candidacy on October 4.
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