Almost 6,000 people have lost their lives since July, due to the Philippines Drug War initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the Philippine National Police.

Elected in May this year, President Duterte’s platform was based upon his fight to reduce the drug problem in the Philippines. On his first day of office, President Duterte gave the permission for police officers and civilians to kill anyone suspected of dealing or using drugs.

Criticism on the war

These extrajudicial killings have gotten President Duterte much criticism from international human rights groups, especially with the Human Rights Watch and the United Nations.

Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo along with Philippine senator Linda De Lima, are trying to lead an opposition against Duterte, and call for an international criminal investigation to stop the killings. Both women have been very open about their stance against the drug war and because of so, they have received much hate and even death threats.

President Duterte has spoken very poorly about the United States as he has been calling President Obama names. However, after receiving a phone call from President-elect Donald Trump, Duterte is pleased with the new president. He stated how Trump has credited him in his campaign against drugs and shared with the Filipino media how Trump said he was handling the drug crisis “the right way.”

Poverty’s impact on the war

Many Filipinos have been affected by the drug war, some living in the Philippines and some living in the United States.

“It’s about the poverty in the Philippines, drugs are bought and sold because these people need the income. This is the only way they can make money” said Alexander Montejo, who was born in Laguna, Philippines.

According to official government statistics, about 12 million Filipinos are living in extreme poverty as of 2015. Extreme poverty conditions as defined by the United Nations as “a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.”

In explaining the drug war and how it is affecting things back home, Montejo said President Duterte has been the only president who has taken any action with the increasing drug problem.

Treatment for users

For the dealers and users, some choose to surrender as the easier choice than being targeted for murder. Once surrendered, they are closely monitored and enrolled in government programs. With over 700,000 people surrendering and only 50 government treatment centers, the country was unprepared for this war. While many other police-enforced programs are being assigned for the drug addicts, there is more extensive work that must be done in order to help an addict recover.