9 more killed in Manila police’s anti-drug ops

The death toll in the anti-drugs operations of the Manila Police District (MPD) continues to rise as nine more drug suspects were killed on Thursday night.

"After ng operation natin na nagresult sa 25 na namatay na nanglaban na mga suspects, kagabi meron uling siyam na namatay na lumaban sa ating kapulisan," said Senior Superintendent Danilo Macerin in a Balitanghali report by Marisol Abdurahman on Friday.

Authorities recovered nine firearms and 40 sachets of suspected shabu from the suspects.

According to Macerin, the suspected drug individuals tried to resist arrest, forcing cops to take action.

"Pag lapit ng mga pulis natin kaagad na bumunot 'yung mga suspects natin, pumutok at nanlaban 'yung... no other choice 'yung ating ano but to retaliate. Kung maaalala ninyo, two weeks ago may tinamaan tayong pulis na hanggang ngayon ay nasa ospital pa nga, a week after may tinamaan ulit," Macerin said.

"So di natin [puwedeng] sabihin na hindi nanlalaban 'yung mga suspect natin dahil may tinamaan na pulis, may namatay na nga eh," he added.

Macerin said the MPD is open to any investigation that will determine if there were any human rights violations  committed during the operations.

"The fact is talagang binaril ng ating mga pulis kung san ang tama eh nasa operating personnel natin. Kung may pagdududa, ang MPD ay bukas sa imbestigasyon na gagawin ng kung sino mang investigative bodies," Macerin said.

Operations conducted last Wednesday to Thursday morning left 25 drug suspects dead. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ/KVD, GMA News