The former president was flown overnight to be arraigned before the International Criminal Court for “crimes against humanity”. His lawyers, family members and supporters tried to stop his departure. The trial risks further widening the gap between the Duterte and Marcos families ahead of May elections.

Francis dedicated today's general audience to the World Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. "Let just laws be promoted to help drug addicts". Meaningful words for the continent of the Golden Triangle, but also for the Chinese companies that export the active ingredients for the production of Fentanyl and Duterte's bloody 'war on drugs'.

Top executives of the main transnational criminal organisation, which was responsible for transporting drugs abroad, arrested, while local consumption is also growing. Drug trafficking continues to travel the so-called 'northern route' through Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia to finally reach Europe, with widespread connivance among law enforcement agencies. 

The denunciation by opposition MP Eran Wickramaratne of the Sjb. The large quantities coming from India are a cause for concern. A significant part of the smuggled heroin allegedly comes from the so-called 'Golden Triangle' region in South-East Asia. The ruling class accused of ignoring the emergency (also) because of the involvement of local politicians.