“Poor Filipinos have always been at the losing end, with governments upholding the interests of the rich and big business. Duterte’s rule is no different; in fact, it is more ruthless and more brutal on the poor. This is evident from killings as a defective solution to the problems regarding illegal drugs and criminality, the imposition of new regressive tax burdens, continuation of contractualization schemes and non-increase of minimum wage, and, recently, a violent dispersal of a picket line of workers and a shoot-to-kill order on Kadamay members claiming their right to decent housing,” said Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay.