The police force is widely regarded as one of the Philippines’ most corrupt institutions, a reputation reinforced by accusations three officers were involved in abducting and killing a. “Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances” by police and military forces were the Philippines’ most significant human rights issue, the US State Department said in its annual human rights report in 2015. Since then police have reported killing 2,250 drug suspects and another 3,710 people killed in unexplained circumstances as part of ’s controversial drug war. Three policemen abducted the South Korean businessman last year when they went to his house on the pretext of a raid on illegal drugs, then killed him the same day but claimed he was still alive to extort money from his wife, authorities said. Newly elected President Duterte accused five police generals – two retired and three in active service – of being part of the country’s illegal drugs trade. All five denied involvement, but the three active-duty officers were removed from key posts, though none of them has been charged in court. A judge dismissed a case last year against an Australian man accused by police of drug trafficking. Police had claimed the man was arrested in a raid on a Manila street with ecstasy tablets. But CCTV footage presented to the court showed police had hauled him out of his hotel room.
