Trillanes: 20,322 EJKs according to Duterte admin’s own accomplishment report

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday pointed out that both the number of people killed in anti-illegal drug operations and the number of homicide cases under investigation from July 1, 2016 to November 27, 2017 were listed under the "fighting illegal drugs" section in President Rodrigo Duterte's 2017 accomplishment report.

In a "24 Oras" report by Ian Cruz, the opposition senator said the labeling meant the Duterte administration has claimed both the 3,967 deaths in anti-drug operations and the 16,355 deaths under investigation as victims killed in its anti-drug campaign.

"Ang problema nila, nilalagay nila sa section fighting illegal drugs as accomplishment of Duterte. So ibig sabihin talagang tungkol ito sa drugs o drug-related ang pagkamatay, at lumalabas na hindi ito vigilante killings kasi nga,  clinaim nila na accomplishment nila 'yon eh," Trillanes said.

Duterte's war against drugs has attracted local and international criticism and investigation as it racked up deaths in the thousands.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said Trillanes misunderstood the labeling.

"Misnomer 'yun, magiging ano 'yun, kasi homicide nga nakalagay. Pag sinabing homicide, hindi dapat nandoon 'yun," Panelo told GMA News.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao claimed that only 120 of the 16,355 deaths under investigation are drug-related.

"Kung mayroon kaming nakikitang problema roon, 'yung mislabeling ng figures. Dahil 'yung 16,355 na incidents ay hindi lamang ito lahat related sa droga...Dahil sa record namin out of 16,355 reported incidents na sinasabi ni Senator Trillanes, only 120 incidents are drug related," Bulalacao said.

The PNP have claimed that they killed almost 4,000 suspects during anti-drug operations in self-defense. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News