MANILA, Philippines — The slay of another Philippine lawyer — the 38th to have been reported killed since the start of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte — could be a case of “drug war murder,” Human Rights Watch said. In a statement dated Friday, March 15, the New York-based human rights group said the killing of lawyers in the Philippines could threaten the country’s justice system. “The government has subjected journalists, activists, priests, and religious leaders who have been critical of the ‘drug war’ to a withering campaign of vilification and harassment, including through social media,” HRW said. But then perhaps that is the purpose.”Citing reports, HRW said Lopoz’s family believes he was killed because he was representing defendants in drug cases, and that his murder was linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. The IBP renewed their call to the Supreme Court to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the killings of Filipino lawyers.

Source: Philippine Star March 16, 2019 03:45 UTC