The Philippines’ new president rewires the war on drugs
Bongbong Marcos has asked more than 900 police chiefs to resign
WHEN HE BECAME president of the Philippines last June, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos promised to moderate his predecessor’s harsh drugs policies. Rodrigo Duterte had ordered the police to shoot dead any suspected dealer who did not surrender. This led to the killing of thousands of Filipinos. It also handed the police a much-abused opportunity to determine who was and wasn’t a dealer. One of Mr Marcos’s priorities is to reduce the corruption this encouraged in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “May the force be without you”
Asia January 28th 2023
From the January 28th 2023 edition
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