This archive report was first published on 23 July 2019.
On July 22, 2019, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called on lawmakers to restore the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs and corruption during his annual State of the Nation address.
With exceptionally high approval ratings and a legislature dominated by his allies, President Duterte urged action on a key plank of his tough-on-crime stance, which has been internationally condemned.
"I respectfully request congress to reinstate the death penalty for heinous crimes related to drugs as well as plunder," he said, referring to the nation's deep-rooted corruption problem.
Amnesty International immediately warned over the proposal's impact on a nation where police claim to have killed more than 5,300 drug suspects, but activists say the true toll is at least four times higher.
"Talk of bringing back the death penalty for drug-related crimes is abhorrent, and risks aggravating the current climate of impunity," Amnesty section director in the Philippines Butch Olano said.
Despite facing a review by the United Nations' rights body and a preliminary inquiry from International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors, President Duterte remained defiant in his address.
"Duterte -- extrajudicial killing -- report to the ICC," he said. "If you can provide me with a good comfortable cell, heated during winter time... unlimited conjugal visits, we can understand each other."
