How can Philippine human rights activists be protected?

Philippine police and the army are being accused of killing human rights activists under the guise of combatting alleged communist rebels.

In the latest incident labelled “Bloody Sunday”, nine people were killed in raids south of Manila.

The government insists the operation was lawful. But the victims’ families say the dead were not fighters but community organisers.

The United Nations is accusing President Rodrigo Duterte of encouraging violence against activists, journalists and lawyers.

Can anything be done to protect them?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Carlos Conde – Philippines researcher at Human Rights Watch

Richard Heydarian – academic and author of The Rise of Duterte: A populist revolt against elite democracy

Lian Buan – justice reporter for Rappler