PNP may not be able to attain Duterte's target in anti-drug campaign
The Philippine National Police is not satisfied with their campaign against illegal drugs and is worried they will not be able to meet a target imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte in four months.
"It's still lacking," Ronald dela Rosa, director general of the Philippine National Police, said of their fight against illegal drugs during a press conference in Camp Crame on Thursday.
The national police said 915 drug suspects were killed in what they described as "legitimate" police operations since July 1. The number of drug personalities arrested in the same operations totaled 13,247
The number of fatalities is 2,075 if 1,160 other drug suspects slain by vigilantes is included.
"The President said zero tolerance on drugs so we still have a lot to cover and I'm worried. We are running out of time,” said de la Rosa.
In a separate press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella claimed phase one of the campaign against drugs has been successful. The aim was mainly to create awareness of the depth of the drug menace, he said.
"That phase two of the campaign is already started, with the investigation of police officers involved in illegitimate operations," Abella said. He said rehabilitating drug users and pushers is part of the second phase of operations.
Abella said "it is important to note that in less than a hundred days or just about a third month, just under the third month of the Duterte administration, we have already achieved positive results " .
Aside from constructing rehabilitation facilities inside military camps nationwide, he said there were also private groups which promised to help.
Duterte, since becoming president on June 30, launched a war against prohibited drugs in the country. International newspapers and human rights watchdogs have attacked him for his approach on drugs and crime where he has shown no remorse on the death toll.
Dela Rosa is particularly concerned about the figure on surrenderees which is at 629,229. Of the number, 41,458 are pushers while the rest are users.
"It has not increased when you compare it with the 1.8 million people into drugs mentioned by the Dangerous Drugs Board," said Dela Rosa.
"We need more people to surrender" said Dela Rosa. Emmanuel Tupas and Celerina Monte
