'Nagkataon,' PNP chief says on spike in drug war deaths in Bulacan

Philippine National Police (PNP) Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde dismissed as coincidence the seeming spike in deaths of drug suspects during police operations in Bulacan, noting that the casualty toll happened in a large province with a high population.

"Unang-una, ang namamatay po diyan ay hindi lang sa iisang lugar, ang sabi natin probinsya... medyo mabahala siguro tayo kung 'yung apat na patay na 'yun ay nandoon lang sa isang barangay, nguni't 'yung mga patay na 'yun ay kalat po 'yan eh," he said.

"Sabi ko nga, napakalaki po ng Bulacan, ilan ba ang population niyan, more than a million," he added.

This week, eight suspects were killed in "one-time, big-time" police operations across the province. Bulacan Police Provincial Office acting director Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna said the eight fatalities were reported in the towns of Pulilan, Pandi, Santa Maria, Balagtas and Obando.

"Ito po ay nakita lang natin probably, nagkataon na may operation 'yung isang station, may operation 'yung isang station kasi ang direktiba naman natin mula po nang pag-upo ng ating Presidente, ay talaga we go for this anti-illegal drugs operations," Albayalde said.

Last month, 13 suspects were killed in overnight operations in the province.

Albayalde, who was National Capital Region police chief before taking over the top PNP post, said the drug problem in Metro Manila was worse compared to provinces.

"Alam naman po natin na makapal dito sa Metro Manila dahil 'yung community dito kumpara sa ibang probinsya, halo-halo kasi dito..." he said.

He admitted that they still need to double their time and effort in the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign despite its "accomplishments."

"Unang-una napakahirap iquantify 'yung ating accomplishment sa iligal an droga. Despite 'yung accomplishment natin at 'yung effort on illegal drugs, meron pa kasi tayong nakikitang mga... gaya nitong street pushers," Albayalde said.

"We are wondering bakit napakarami pa ring street pushers at kung saan nila kinukuha 'yung source nila, definitely may source 'yan. Ito 'yung tinitingnan natin. Maganda 'yung nasimulan natin, maganda 'yung momentum natin kaya siguro kailangan namin on our part na magdouble time para ma-meet namin at least by the end of the term ng Presidente, halos 'di mo na maramdaman 'yung problema sa iligal na droga," Albayalde added.

According to latest government data, 4,279 drug suspects were killed while more than 140,000 others were arrested since the start of the war on drugs of the Duterte administration.

More than 500 government workers were also arrested during the anti-illegal drugs operations as 241 were government employees, 217 were elected officials and 48 were uniformed personnel.

The consolidated report of the drug war also showed that 2,678.61 kilograms of shabu worth P14.34 billion have been seized by authorities. —Anna Felicia Bajo/JST, GMA News