PNP: We have accounted for 1.5 million drug users

The Philippine National Police has accounted for around 1.5 million drug users for the last three years, its spokesman said on Wednesday.

"We have accounted for 1.5 million drug users. That's the official record for the last three years, not seven to eight million," Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said in an interview on ANC.

Early this year, President Rodrigo Duterte disclosed that there were seven to eight million Filipinos who have been "reduced to slaves" of illegal drugs.

Banac said it cannot be claimed that the Chief Executive's information was wrong because he obtains his information from a wide range of sources.

"We cannot also say that because the President has a wide range of information and unlimited intelligence. When he made that estimate, there is a basis on that," Banac said.

"The President would just normally express things that would really emphasize,
to make a point... That's how we view it," he added.

Banac, however, admitted that the PNP was not consulted about Duterte's figures on drug users.

"We were not consulted because if we will show records, we can show that it will not reach that high," he said.

Based on government figures, over 5,500 individuals have been killed during anti-drug operations of authorities. —KG, GMA News