129 children killed in Philippines’ four-year war on drugs- report

Activist groups said Monday at least 129 children were killed in the Philippines’ four-year war on drugs, but the figures could only be a fraction of the actual numbers.

Police or allied assailants killed most of the kids, World Organization against Torture (OMCT) and the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center said.

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The report entitled “How could they do this to my child?” said most of the victims were minors and were tagged as “collateral damage.”

The group called on Human Rights Council to launch an independent commission of inquiry into extrajudicial killings and other crimes at its three-week session opening on today, June 30.

The figures are just “The tip of the iceberg because it is only those cases that we were able to document and verify, there may be many more in the country,” said Gerald Staberock, OMCT secretary-general.

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“We are calling on the Human Rights Council to give a clear investigative mandate on the ground to collect the evidence and to ensure accountability,” he told a news conference.

Also read: HWG wants presidential proclamation to officially end war on drugs

129 children killed in Philippines’ four-year war on drugs- report