‘Zero’ EJK case under Duterte admin —PNP

As far as the Philippine National Police (PNP) is concerned, there has been no case of extrajudicial killing (EJK) under the Duterte administration so far.

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos on Friday afternoon corrected his earlier claim that last December's killing of Catanduanes-based journalist Larry Que is the only confirmed EJK since July last year.

"Larry Que case is not yet a confirmed EJK case according to TF (Task Force) Usig Secretariat. My mistake," Carlos said.

As for the number of EJKs under the Duterte administration, he said, "So far, none, zero. I stand corrected."

Earlier, Carlos downplayed the result of a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey stating that 73 percent of Filipinos are worried that they or someone they know will fall victim to EJKs amid the PNP's war on drugs or Oplan Tokhang.

"The PNP protects every individual's right to life," he said in a statement.

"The possibility of them becoming victim of EJK is very remote, if we based it on facts and not on impression/perception," Carlos added.

The SWS survey showed the percentage of Filipinos who are worried that they or someone they know will become victims of extrajudicial killings is the same as the 73 percent who indicated the same in March 2017. 

However, more said they are "very worried" —37 percent in March and 41 in June.

Carlos assured the public that the PNP will continue to exert its best effort to improve peace and order, with less crime incidents that may victimize the people.

On the result of the survey stating that 90 percent of Filipinos believe it is important that drug suspects be captured alive, Carlos said the PNP "is one with the Filipino people who wants drug suspects be captured alive."

"In the focused campaign against illegal drugs from July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017, the PNP conducted 71,393 anti-drug operations that resulted to the arrest of 109,090 drug offenders who are alive and facing criminal charges in courts," he added.

He added under Oplan Tokhang, 8,794,120 house visitations nationwide were conducted which resulted to the surrender of 1,260,196 drug suspects.

He said the surrenderers were accorded the opportunity to change and assistance were extended to them.

"This actions proved that the PNP values the right to life of these unfortunate victims of illegal drugs," Carlos said.

He said the drug suspects who surrendered and arrested alive comprise the approximate 99.98 percent results of the PNP campaign against illegal drugs. —KBK, GMA News