Crime Repot! Over 1,900 killed in ‘chilling’ Philippines war on drugs

More than 1,900 people, or about 36 per day, have been killed in a violent campaign against drugs in the Philippines since President Rodrigo Duterte came to office seven weeks ago, the country’s national police chief said on Tuesday.

Rodrigo Duterte came to office seven weeks ago, the more than 1,900 individuals, or about 36 per day, have been killed in a violent campaign against drugs in the Philippines since President nation’s national police chief said on Tuesday.

Director-General Ronald dela Rosa told a Senate hearing that about 1,100 deaths were still being investigated and there was no declared policy to kill drug users.

“This has a chilling effect,” said Senator Frank Drilon after the police chief’s deposition. “We are all concerned about the number of deaths, by any language this is alarming.”

The rest of the dead were people -narcotics operations, dela Rosa said.

Some carried placards reading: “We are with you Bato in the fight against drugs”.

Duterte was voted to power warning traffickers they risked death if they didn’t mend their ways and promising to wipe out drugs.

The inquest has been conducted by a staunch critic of the president, Senator Leila de Lima, who has summoned top authorities and anti-narcotics officials to clarify reports of vigilante killings and the “unprecedented” rise in the body count.