PNP tally: 4,354 dead in anti-drug ops during Duterte admin

"Only" 2.9 percent of drug suspects died in anti-drug operations, the police said Wednesday while presenting numbers that it said would "dispel the accusation that the war on drugs is bloody."

At a press briefing for its drug war report #RealNumbersPH, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Benigno Durana Jr. said that 4,354 suspects have died in the administration's war on drugs compared to 147,802 that have been arrested in 102,630 anti-drug operations conducted from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018.

"Only 2.9 percent of those arrested resulted [in] the death of drug personalities, and if we relate these drug personalities who died in anti-drug operations vis-à-vis anti-drug operations conducted, only four percent [of operations] resulted [in] the death of drug suspects. This will in a way explain or dispel the accusation that the war on drugs is bloody," Durana said.

The total arrests increased by 3.12 percent or 4,467 arrested since the previous data, recorded from July 1, 2016 to May 15, 2018.

The number of drug suspects who died in police operations also increased by the 75 who were killed during the period from May 15 to June 30.

The #RealNumbersPH social cards, which present consolidated data on the anti-illegal drug campaign, also showed that there was an increase by 3.16 percent or 3,145 in the total number of anti-drug operations conducted.

Durana said that 526 government workers—245 government employees, 229 elected officials and 52 uniformed personnel—were arrested from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018 for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A total of 1,161 minors have also been rescued nationwide during the same period. They have been turned over to local social welfare offices, said Durana.

Durana said they have also filed administrative cases for various offenses against a total of 8,526 police personnel since 2016.

Out of this number, only 398 were involved in illegal drugs: 172 tested positive for illegal drug use, while 226 were found to be involved in illegal drug operations.

"This will tell us that we don't condone any wrongdoings within our ranks. If we can be tougher on crime, we should be toughest on our erring cops," he said.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, meanwhile, reported that a total 2,738.73 kilograms of shabu worth P14.66 billion were confiscated by PDEA and other local enforcement agencies nationwide. This was an increase of 60.12 kilograms, valued at P315.01 million, confiscated from May 15 to June 30, 2018.

The sources of shabu were mainly from smuggling (714.92 kilograms) and manufacturing (318.39 kilograms), particularly from the dismantling of clandestine laboratories, said PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon.

The entry points of illegal drugs in the country are through coastlines, airports, seaports as well as the mail and parcel systems.

Carreon said the total value of seized drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals and laboratory equipment were pegged at P21.29 billion or an increase of P516.73 million from May 15 to June 30.

Meanwhile, 6,562 barangays out of the total 42,036 barangays in the Philippines were deemed cleared from illegal drugs from July 1, 2016 to May 31, 2019.

The latest number of drug-related complaints resolved and still pending in courts have yet to be released but in the previous social cards released in May, the #RealNumbersPH data showed that the Department of Justice has so far handled 7,061 complaints with an 89.65 percent disposal rate. Of this number of complaints, 6,330 have been resolved while the 731 are still pending.

The Philippine Center for Journalism has criticized the #RealNumbersPH report, citing "flawed and inflated numbers" in some of its editions. — BM, GMA News