Some People Need Killing

Starred review from August 28, 2023
In this shattering debut, Filipina journalist Evangelista interviews detainees, families, and key government officials to illuminate the Philippines’ brutal war on drugs. Even before Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in as president of the Philippines in 2016, he was known for his tough stance on drugs, and for his lack of distinction between dealers and users. As mayor of Davao City, he sanctioned death squads that assassinated citizens suspected of being involved with narcotics. After he became president, Duterte inflated the number of homicides in the country and tied them to drug abuse in order to justify his use of secret police to kill suspected drug offenders. When media pushback and human rights campaigns finally forced Duterte to put an end to the national police’s involvement in 2017, the death toll stood at over 7,000; but the blood didn’t stop running, according to Evangelista, who reveals that vigilantes, paid by police, took over the killings. With rigorous reporting, Evangelista painstakingly lays out how Duterte gathered political power and convinced his constituents to support the slaughter. Most chillingly, she speaks to several ardent Duterte followers and allies who’ve come to regret their support for the ex-president, who left office in 2022. The result is an astonishing and frightening exposé that won’t soon be forgotten. Agent: David Granger, Aevitas Creative Management.