Photojournalist and Documentary Photographer Linus Escandor II is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this social documentary photography. From his project ‘Philippines War on Drugs‘. To see Linus’ body of work click on any photograph.
Rodrigo Roa Duterte became president of the Philippines on June 30, 2016. Come election day, 16 million gave him their votes. In return, he gave them his word. He vowed to become “The Punisher” of criminals, drug lords, pushers and addicts. He promised to wipe out criminality within three to six months and as a result of this promise to the Filipinos, bodies of suspected drug criminals have been piling up.
"...also prodded the Philippine National Police to cleanse its own ranks..."
When Duterte ran, he promised change. He replicated his accomplishments in Davao, a city in southern Philippines known for safe streets. The President’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs also prodded the Philippine National Police to cleanse its own ranks as the Chief Executive disclosed the names of incumbent officials who were alleged protectors of drug lords.
"...killers wrap their victims heads with brown packaging tapes before dumping them on the streets for everyone to see."
Death in these photographs came in many faces: suspects shot in the head; man dumped under the bridge, druggies killed on railroad tracks, and a boy shot dead beside his father. Some corpses have been deprived of their faces. To further shock the public, killers wrap their victims heads with brown packaging tapes before dumping them on the streets for everyone to see. And to further humiliate the victims, card boards that bore the words ‘I’m a pusher, don’t be like me’ or ‘I’m a drug addict’ were thrown beside their bodies.
Majority of Filipinos believe and trust President Rodrigo Roa Duterte despite the controversies thrown at his administration.
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By Linus Escandor II
