Philippines President to explain war on illegal drugs to Asean

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is set to explain about his government's war on illegal drugs to the Asean and other partner countries at the Laos Summit, an official said on Friday.

Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Affairs Ma. Hellen dela Vega said part of the Philippines key priorities for the Summit would be "drug-free Asean", Xinhua news agency reported.

"He will explain to the international community the problem that we had, how it impacts on the social fabric of our society. And the problem could even affect us in the future," dela Vega said in Malacanang, the presidential palace.

Duterte's attendance to the 28th and 29th Asean Summit and related Summits in Vientiane on September 6 to 8 will be his first since he assumed office on June 30.

UN rapporteur human rights experts were among the first to criticise Duterte for the extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the country.

Duterte even threatened that the Philippines would pull out from the UN.

Since July 1, more than 2,000 drug suspects have already been killed -- most of them allegedly by vigilantes.

Duterte has vowed to eliminate illegal drugs in the country within the first three to six months of his administration.

--IANS

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