I sat down twice with the president of the Philippines; it was one of the most challenging situations I've had as a journalist and I only now tell the story PART 1
Fantastic interview with Duterte. Thank you for sharing your journalistic dilemmas surrounding Duterte's extrajudicial murders of shabu drug dealers/users.
Ioan Grillo has produced an excellent and thought-provoking analysis of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing trial at the International Criminal Court for his involvement in extra-judicial killings of drug dealers. Remarkably, Duterte never flinched from why and how he used deadly force on those he felt threatened his nation and people.
Well appreciated there Robert. His defense will be that the statements were hyperbole, I think. I imagine the case against him will be using witnesses who have turned. It will be an interesting one to watch.
If he read your books, why did he go for his violent punitive War on Drugs and not take a public health response (combined with a law enforcement response) as you have suggested???
Man that was an interesting encounter. I wish the Mexican government reached out more to people like you, that have experienced what is done for similar problems abroad.
Thanks there David. I think Bukele is smarter in that sense and understands that mass incarceration wouldnt put him before the ICC in a way that extra judicial killings (alleged) do! But sure, having met them both, Duterte is much more loose wire than Bukele. Appreciated.
Parts of this article sound a bit like El Faro’s reporting in El Salvador: people appreciate criminals not running amok, but then people start going missing because the police are running amok. 😢
Yeah, it is an interesting one. I guess a target is what is the best balance between freedom and public security. Some countries have good levels of both. Some have neither. Best there K!
“It’s fun to kill…”
-Once you have a quote like that, the rest of the interview is a bonus.
Thanks for another fascinating & enlightening article, Ioan!
Yeah, I thought it was a no brainer that had to open the piece. Although the original editor didnt agree! Well appreciated and all best there Jack.
This is among your best posts and that’s no small feat. I’m sure if I look up “journalist” in the dictionary I will find your picture. On to Part 2.
Super appreciated there Daniel. Yeah, this post has a lot of history behind it and great to get it out there...
Excellent article. We westerners should not judge other cultures for how they deal with severe domestic threats to society.
Thanks and well appreciated. Yeah, this was a tough but glad to finally get it out there.
Ioan,
Fantastic interview with Duterte. Thank you for sharing your journalistic dilemmas surrounding Duterte's extrajudicial murders of shabu drug dealers/users.
We are in this together. No Kings. Peace,
Christopher and family
Thanks so much and peace to you my friend.
Awesome read!!
Well appreciated there Edgar! All best there friend.
Ioan Grillo has produced an excellent and thought-provoking analysis of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing trial at the International Criminal Court for his involvement in extra-judicial killings of drug dealers. Remarkably, Duterte never flinched from why and how he used deadly force on those he felt threatened his nation and people.
Well appreciated there Robert. His defense will be that the statements were hyperbole, I think. I imagine the case against him will be using witnesses who have turned. It will be an interesting one to watch.
If he read your books, why did he go for his violent punitive War on Drugs and not take a public health response (combined with a law enforcement response) as you have suggested???
A very good point Paavan. Maybe he just read the violent bits!
Man that was an interesting encounter. I wish the Mexican government reached out more to people like you, that have experienced what is done for similar problems abroad.
Yeah, it was a crazy one. Mexico is one different kettle of fish though. Cheers Diego.
sounds very surreal. resorting to extra judicial killings to fight a drug problem seems over the top extreme
Was surreal. And extreme it certainly is!
Thanks there David. I think Bukele is smarter in that sense and understands that mass incarceration wouldnt put him before the ICC in a way that extra judicial killings (alleged) do! But sure, having met them both, Duterte is much more loose wire than Bukele. Appreciated.
Parts of this article sound a bit like El Faro’s reporting in El Salvador: people appreciate criminals not running amok, but then people start going missing because the police are running amok. 😢
Yeah, it is an interesting one. I guess a target is what is the best balance between freedom and public security. Some countries have good levels of both. Some have neither. Best there K!