$20 annual budget given to public body in Philippines investigating controversial war on drugs

$20 annual budget given to public body in Philippines investigating controversial war on drugs

By Semi Turaga
13/09/2017
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte [Photo: Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte]

Members of parliament in the Philippines have voted to give an annual budget of just $20 to the public body investigating the country's controversial war on drugs.

The cut to the budget of the Commission on Human Rights was supported by a margin of 119 to 32 in Congress.

Speaker of the House labelled the commission "useless".

But critics say the move is punishment for the body's staunch criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte's drugs war.

Thousands have been killed since President Duterte launched the anti‑drug crackdown last year.

It aims to wipe out the drug trade in the Philippines, but has attracted international criticism over the number of deaths.

Source: BBC

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