Singer James Taylor has canceled a February concert in the Philippines to protest President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs that reportedly has led to extrajudicial killing of suspected drug dealers.
Duterte's anti-drug campaign, which has been linked to 2,000 deaths with another 3,000 deaths under investigation, has already brought condemnation from the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, reported Bloomberg.
Duterte has pushed back against the criticism, saying he only is working to get rid of drug dealers and make the Philippines a safe place for its people, noted CNN.
"The scourge of addiction is a worldwide problem and does serious harm, not only to the addict but to our society," the 68-year-old Taylor said on his website in announcing the cancellation of the concert.
"For a sovereign nation to prosecute and punish, under the law, those responsible for the illegal trade in drugs is, of course, understandable, even commendable; but recent reports from the Philippines of summary executions of suspected offenders without trial or judicial process are deeply concerning and unacceptable to anyone who loves the rule of law."
Duterte said the methods used by police are necessary against suspected drug dealers who are harming the Philippines, noted CNN.
"Look; it can never be a crime to say, 'I will kill you if you destroy my country,'" Duterte said in a speech last week.
Duterte clarified an earlier statement that he personally killed a drug suspect while mayor of Davao City, noted CNN. He said he was among a group of people firing weapons and he did not know if his bullets hit the people who died.
Views about Taylor's boycott were mixed on social media:
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