Addicts still willing to risk death in return for a fix as Philippines’ bloody drug purge continues
Duterte’s crackdown criticised by UN and US, who warn the Philippines is in the midst of a reign of terror as authorities act with no regard for the law
Pedicab driver Reyjin dives into a neighbour’s house for a quick meth fix, fearful of taking a bullet to the head in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs but unable to quit.
More than 2,000 people have died violent deaths since Duterte took office two months ago and immediately implemented his scorched-earth plans to eradicate drugs in society, ordering police to shoot dead traffickers and urging ordinary citizens to kill addicts.
Sometime I tell myself I have to stop. But my body craves it
The bloodbath has seen unknown assailants kill more than half the victims, according to police statistics, raising fears that security forces and hired assassins are roaming through communities and shooting dead anyone suspected of being involved in drugs.
Armed police constantly circle in Reyjin’s Manila slum community, but he continues to snort the fumes of the highly addictive methamphetamine known as shabu that Duterte has warned is destroying the lives of millions of poor Filipinos.
“It’s scary because I could be next,” said the 28-year-old, speaking on the condition his identity not be revealed for security reasons.
The father of three children said two masked motorcycle gunmen riding in tandem on a motorcycle had shot dead a woman who sold small amounts of drugs to him and other residents.