MANILA, Philippines — There is a renewed urgency to investigate those implicated in alleged drug war crimes now that Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa—the campaign’s chief enforcer—is poised to make his Senate debut, Human Rights Watch said. “Dela Rosa was as vociferous is carrying out and defending the ‘drug war’ brutality as [President Rodrigo] Duterte was in justifying it,” Carlos Conde of HRW Asia division said Friday. Dela Rosa, whose area of focus would be law enforcement and peace and order if elected lawmaker, placed fifth in a near final tally as of 7:29 a.m. Friday. If elected as senator, Dela Rosa would also push for the re-imposition of death penalty for drug-related crimes, rape and murder. “However one views the election results, it won’t change the fact that victorious candidates implicated in ‘drug war’ crimes shouldn’t receive a get-out-of-jail-free card,” HRW’s Conde said.

Source: Philippine Star May 17, 2019 00:59 UTC