Duterte pulls police off controversial drugs crackdown

It is the second time Rodrigo Duterte has barred police from his controversial war on drugs

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has demoted the country's police from leading his drugs war, amid growing criticism of the bloody crackdown.

The country's Drugs Enforcement Agency will take charge of operations instead. Police say they have killed over 3,850 people in anti-drugs operations since Mr Duterte took office last year.

Mr Duterte faces growing opposition over his policies

In January, he also suspended police from the war on drugs, calling them "corrupt" - but reinstated them again shortly afterwards.

That suspension came after a South Korean businessman was kidnapped and killed by anti-drug police.

The woman who kills drug dealers for a living


Mr Duterte was elected last summer on a hardline platform promising to fight drugs, crime and corruption.

His policy of endorsing extrajudicial killings in the war against drugs has drawn widespread international condemnation and also led to criticism within the country.

In September, thousands attended rallies criticising his war on drugs - although thousands of others attended rival pro-Duterte rallies.