U.S. expresses concern over extrajudicial killings in the Philippines

State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau in a press conference. The U.S. State Department says it is concerned by extrajudicial killings of suspects involved in drug trade in the Philippines.  (Photo grabed from Reuters video/Courtesy Reuters)
State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau in a press conference. The U.S. State Department says it is concerned by extrajudicial killings of suspects involved in drug trade in the Philippines. (Photo grabed from Reuters video/Courtesy Reuters)

 

(Reuters) — The United States State Department said on Monday (August 8) the United States is concerned about extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, where officials say more than 400 suspected drug dealers have been killed by police since President Rodrigo Duterte took over.

“We are concerned by these detentions as well as the extra judicial killing of individuals suspected to be involved in drug activity in the Philippines,” State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said at a news briefing.

The United States is urging the Philippines to “ensure its law enforcement efforts comply with its human rights obligations,” Trudeau said.