Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos concerned about Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘unilateralism’
Police operations were suspended on January 31 after a South Korean businessman was murdered by rogue drugs squad officers
A war on drugs in the Philippines has given rise to a culture of impunity and President Rodrigo Duterte is making too many policy decisions without consultation, according to former leader Fidel Ramos.
Ramos, who backed Duterte’s election campaign but has since become one of his bluntest critics, said there was “too much unilateralism” in the administration, especially on law enforcement and security issues.
More than 7,600 people have been killed during a merciless drugs crackdown that started seven months ago. That includes more than 2,500 in police operations.
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Ramos was asked during an interview on Sunday with online news channel Rappler whether the bloodshed during the drugs war meant a culture of impunity was prevailing.
“It is starting to become like that,” Ramos said.
He said he felt hesitant to call it a culture of impunity because he believed it was not too late to change, but that the onus was on Duterte.
“Based on the guidance from the very top, there could be positive change [in] the way we do things in this country,” Ramos said.
Police operations were suspended on January 31 after a South Korean businessman was murdered by rogue drugs squad officers. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has since taken over the lead role and Duterte wants the military to join raids.