Rappler's latest stories on drugs
Mexican police arrest 3 over rehab center attack that left 27 dead
The suspects are captured in a swoop by special forces, the prosecutor's office says on Twitter, calling the incident a 'heinous crime'
[PODCAST] Law of Duterte Land: Can we trust the gov't panel probing drug war deaths?
The government trying to make systems work is a welcome thing, but is it sincere and is it moving fast enough? We take a nuanced look at policy work.
Colombia, U.S. seize 7.5 tons of cocaine near Panama waters
Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine and coca leaves from which the drug is made, according to the United Nations. The United States is the largest consumer.
Patients in need of remdesivir can get special FDA permits
Currently, the Philippines only administers remdesivir to hospitalized patients with severe cases of coronavirus
'Do not be fooled:' Groups say panel probing drug war deaths 'damage control'
(UPDATED) International group Human Rights Watch calls the panel 'nothing more than a ruse to shield the country from international scrutiny'
CHR: Duterte's strong-arm approach contributes to culture of impunity
CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit says the Philippines 'must change course guided by the human rights-based approach to democratic governance'
To avoid ICC, Duterte admin forms panel to probe deaths in police operations
(UPDATED) Justice Secretary Guevarra however tells the UN Human Rights Council the panel will engage the Commission on Human Rights as an independent monitoring body
U.N. rights chief: Duterte drug war 'without due regard for the rule of law'
UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet says the 'killings have been widespread and systematic – and they are ongoing'
LIVE: U.N. rights office presents PH situation report to Human Rights Council
Watch Michelle Bachelet of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights presents the comprehensive report on Tuesday, June 30, at 4:30 pm Manila time
'Far from collateral damage:' Report shows 122 children killed in Duterte's drug war
The World Organization Against Torture and the Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center say the number is 'a minimum' as families are often too afraid to report or testify
Army reservist arrested in Quezon City buy-bust
(UPDATED) 'If found guilty, he will be expelled from service,' says the Philippine Army
4 years on, climate of fear and impunity blocks justice for Duterte’s drug war victims
Police still refuse to cooperate with the Commission on Human Rights while some families signify that they will probably file cases after the Duterte administration
Gun battle over El Chapo legacy leaves 16 dead in Mexico
Mike Vigil, formerly of the US Drug Enforcement Agency, says Guzman's 3 sons – known as the 'Chapitos,' or little Chapos – were engaged in a fight for control of the cartel
U.N. experts renew call for urgent probe into Philippines' human rights abuses
(UPDATED) The experts also call on the International Criminal Court to 'expedite and prioritize the completion of its preliminary examination of the situation in the Philippines'
[OPINION] Why you can't support both #BlackLivesMatter and Duterte’s drug war
'If you are performatively hashtagging about the murders of Michael, Breonna, and Trayvon, you cannot congratulate the murders of Kian, Jefferson, Carl, and over 20,000 other Filipinos'
Amnesty PH slams PDEA for seeking info on 'drug suspects' via Facebook
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency wants to get tips on drug suspects through a Facebook page. Amnesty International Philippines hits the 'dangerous' move.
PDEA uses Facebook page to get tips vs drug suspects
Senator Leila de Lima flags the page as ‘a license to destroy one’s reputation and personal security’
Muntinlupa court denies De Lima's bid to join Senate virtual sessions
'Please note that there is no civil interdiction imposed on me by any court, thus, there should be no unreasonable restrictions on my rights and legitimate interests,' says Senator Leila de Lima, who will file a motion for reconsideration
De Lima files for bail after 3 years in detention
Senator Leila de Lima says the government has not produced enough evidence in one of the 3 cases vs her
China sentences Australian to death for drug trafficking
The man, identified by Australian media as Cam Gillespie, is handed the death penalty by Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court on June 10, according to a notice posted on the court website
Lalamove rider killed in Cavite drug buy-bust
Cavite police say the suspect shot at a cop and resisted arrest
P2.5 billion worth of shabu seized in Cavite buy-bust
Police find 374 bags of suspected shabu in a General Trias residence on the eve of Independence Day
PH refuses to fully implement U.N. human rights recommendations
The Duterte administration 'fully rejects' findings of the UN human rights office that government actions are shrinking civic space for legitimate dissent and leading to serious abuses
Drug courier leaps into a ravine in Kalinga to elude arrest
When cops discover loaves of marijuana in his bag, the suspect panics and jump off a nearby ravine
Police seize P5.1B worth of shabu in Bulacan
(UPDATED) The Philippine National Police earns praise from President Duterte for the buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of 3 suspects, including a Chinese
U.N. report: PH local system not enough to exact accountability for killings
This is noteworthy because to open a formal investigation, where summonses and arrest orders can be issued, the ICC must establish that the Philippines is unable or unwilling to investigate on its own
U.N. report: Documents suggest PH police planted guns in drug war ops
United Nations Human Rights Office says 'police repeatedly recovered guns bearing the same serial numbers from different victims in different locations'
Abuses, killings in PH possibly incited by Duterte's violent rhetoric – U.N. report
Widespread killings and abuses 'suggest that [Duterte]'s public comments may have incited violence and may have had the effect of encouraging, backing, or even ordering human rights violations with impunity'
Duterte's focus on 'real and inflated' security threats leads to serious rights violations – U.N. report
(UPDATED) The United Nations Human Rights Office says human rights violations in the Philippines have been 'reinforced by harmful rhetoric from high-level officials,' some rising 'to the level of incitement to violence'
DOCUMENT: U.N. Human Rights report on killings, abuses in PH
The report by the United Nations says the Duterte goverment's 'heavy-handed' focus on national security threats has led to serious human rights abuses
Duterte's violent drug war leaves children traumatized – HRW
(UPDATED) The 'harmful consequences' of the anti-drug campaign go beyond bloody raids, says Human Rights Watch. Children who lose a loved one are left deeply scarred.
Duterte wants Aaron Aquino to head Clark International Airport Corporation
After leading the country's top anti-narcotics agency, Aaron Aquino is asked to helm a government corporation in charge of developing the second gateway to Metro Manila
Duterte appoints Wilkins Villanueva as PDEA chief
Villanueva, who leads the PDEA's Northern Mindanao office, replaces Aaron Aquino as chief of the country's top anti-drugs agency
[EDITORIAL] In the face of impunity and double standards, #LawIsLaw
Duterte and former police chief Bato dela Rosa have created a monster force – one that will make Hitler proud
Pandemic leading to illegal drug shortages – U.N. report
The UN warns that the pandemic may be presenting some drug smugglers and organized criminals with new opportunities
4 drug suspects dead, 9 arrested in Bulacan anti-illegal drugs operations
Authorities say all the alleged shootout happened in the wee hours covered by the curfew imposed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the province
Mexico bans virus cremations due to search for drug war dead
Victims of cartel hitmen or corrupt authorities often disappear without a trace. A wave of violence since 2006 has left more than 60,000 missing.
Brazil minister wants talks with narcos on coronavirus
Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta says the government has to be realistic about who holds power in many neighborhoods
FDA warns public vs drugs, vaccines with unproven coronavirus treatment
The Food and Drugs Administration says 'there are no registered drugs or vaccines that are licensed specifically for use in COVID-19 treatment or prevention'
FDA approves 5 coronavirus rapid test kits
But the Food and Drug Administration says swabs would still be taken from patients for confirmatory testing, as rapid test kits 'measure antibodies and not the viral load itself'
FDA approves 4 coronavirus test kit products for commercial use
The Department of Health clarifies that the test kits can only be used by hospitals or laboratories with testing capacity
FDA now lets doctors issue electronic prescriptions
FDA Director General Eric Domingo says this will allow people vulnerable to COVID-19 to still access their medicines during the outbreak
Coronavirus drugs: Who's doing what, and when they might come
Treatment could come sooner, with antiviral remdesivir showing early promise and already being used on an ad hoc basis before regulatory approval
FDA warns public vs unregistered coronavirus home test kits sold online
FDA officer-in-charge Eric Domingo says the Philippine government has not yet approved any home test kits for the novel coronavirus
PhilHealth to shoulder coronavirus test costs – Malacañang
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles also says diagnostics company Manila Healthtek is developing a 'rapid test kist' to aid in testing for COVID-19
Duterte: It is my job to kill
'It is my job to scare people, to intimidate people, and to kill people,' says President Rodrigo Duterte in a speech before local officials
FDA approves coronavirus test kits developed by U.P. scientists
The Food and Drug Administration says the kits will be used for field testing and will help address the 'increasing number of reported COVID-19 cases' that 'require immediate diagnosis and monitoring'
Grieving children's choir breaking Philippine drug war cycle
One of their most powerful appearances came last year at a protest near Duterte's annual address to the nation, where they sang their signature piece, 'Awit ng Naulila'
Sea of meth as Myanmar army smashes 3 drug labs
The seizure in one of the world's biggest narcotics-producing regions hauled in 43 million meth tablets worth nearly $100 million in Myanmar
