Netflix's Amo is accused of normalizing the Philippines' brutal war on drugs

BuzzFeed

Described as the Philippines answer to Narcos, Amo is the first Netflix show set in the Philippines to stream worldwide. It is set against the backdrop of President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal war on drugs, which has resulted in the deaths of 4,000 people. "It whitewashes the terror that is being inflicted on lives of people in the Philippines, and mainly people living in poverty," said Judy Chang, executive director of the International Network of People who Use Drugs. Amo director Brillante Mendoza, who has worked with President Duterte on his state-of-the-nation address, counters that the series demonstrates "the two sides of the coin." ASked to respond, Netflix says of the controversy: "Netflix offers a diverse choice for consumers to decide on what, where and when they want to watch. We understand that viewers may have opposing opinions but leave it to them to decide."