Duterte’s war on drugs now includes fake over-the-counter headache pills

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte expanded his war on drugs Wednesday to include peddlers of fake over-the-counter medicines.

Salvador Panelo, chief presidential legal counsel, said Duterte ordered police to target the makers and distributors of fake treatments, following warnings from health authorities about the circulation of counterfeit acetaminophen pain relievers.

Panelo said people involved in the distribution of counterfeit medicine would be charged with economic sabotage.

“They do not only undermine or weaken the national economy by hitting a large-scale industry, they also threaten national security by endangering the health of a vast majority of the people,” Panelo said. Low-quality drugs could contribute to antibiotic resistance and jeopardize public health, he added.

The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration warned the public Monday about a batch of counterfeit paracetamol tablets, saying the drugs posed a risk to consumers.

The World Health Organization says about one-tenth of medical products in low- and middle-income countries are counterfeit or substandard, accounting for a $30 billion fake drugs industry worldwide.

More than 4,000 Filipinos have been killed by police since Duterte launched his signature war on drugs after coming to office in 2016. Thousands of others have been killed by unidentified armed men.

Last month the International Criminal Court announced it was launching a preliminary investigation into Duterte’s drug war, which could potentially put the Filipino strongman on course to to face charges of crimes against humanity at The Hague.

Cover image: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his speech during the 121st founding anniversary of Philippine army at the army headquarters in Manila on March 20, 2018. (TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)