Marcos touts ‘humane’ police
PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Thursday said police operations under his government that are bloodless and humane have been effective in the crackdown against crimes including illegal drugs.
“Our crackdown on illegal drugs, smuggling, illegal gambling, private armed groups, human trafficking and criminality has also strengthened significantly in ways that are not only effective but legal and lawful,” he said in a speech at the national police headquarters near the capital.
“Indeed, police operations are now conducted as humane, as truthful and as bloodless as possible,” he added.
There were 700 drug war-related killings in his first two years in office, according to the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center.
The center this week said 38 suspects were killed in the drug war in July. Cebu in central Philippines have had the most killings this year, including 20 killed by unknown gunmen and seven others by state agents.
The presidential palace said 16,634 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted from April 1 to July 31. “This resulted in the neutralization of 20,286 personalities and the seizure of over P13.72 billion worth of illegal drugs.” — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza