Duterte expects gov't to lose, rights groups to win after sidelining police

MANILA, Philippines — After stripping the police force of the authority to conduct anti-illegal drug operations, President Rodrigo Duterte said he now expects the government to lose in its war on drugs while human rights groups condemning the crackdown are bound to win.

Early this week, Duterte issued a memorandum designating the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as the “sole agency” in charge of the drug war amid simmering public outrage over alleged police abuse in the deadly campaign. He said he is hoping this move will satisfy the “bleeding hearts” and the media.

READ: Duterte: PDEA now 'sole agency' in charge of drug war l Amnesty International: PDEA as lead drug war agency a 'PR' move

In an interview aired over state-run PTV on Friday night, Duterte, when asked how he expects to win the drug war after he inhibited the police from taking part in the crackdown, said: “Ako, frankly? I expect to lose it.”

“Ang human rights ang manalo diyan,” he said, adding that he will no longer “interfere” in the campaign.

“Hindi ako naghugas, ayaw ko na. Pulis, huwag na kayong makialam. Military, huwag na kayong makialam,” he said.

Duterte—who easily won the race to Malacañang last year on a promise to use deadly force to wipe out crime and drugs—has stoked international alarm for activating his fierce anti-drug campaign.

But human rights watchdogs say most of the fatalities are extrajudicial killings committed by cops and unknown assailants—a claim that the government has vehemently denied by insisting that police are only killing in self-defense while gangsters are silencing potential witnesses.

Police data show 3,850 have "died in police operations," suggesting these are drug suspects who engaged arresting officers in shootouts. Meanwhile, there are 2,290 "deaths under investigation," which have already been determined to be "drug-related."

Filipinos have mostly backed Duterte’s drug war even as critics condemned the spate of killings. But the recent deaths of three teenagers in the country’s capital have triggered rare street protests and highlighted concerns about abusive police officers.

READ: Child killings spark calls for UN probe — Human Rights Watch

In his speech in Dumaguete City also on Friday, Duterte said his move to sideline the police from the drug war was “fraught" with "so many dangers” and “so many grave consequences.”

“But if it works, then okay. But if it fell short of the expectation, malipay man ang pari (the priests will get happy.),” the firebrand leader said.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Friday morning, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said he would appeal to Duterte to let the police back in the war on drugs should the crime situation get out of hand.

Dela Rosa also admitted the PNP is to blame for Duterte’s drop in satisfaction ratings, adding that the killing of minors by Caloocan City cops was a setback in the war against drugs.

“It’s our fault because we have members doing something illegal so we pulled the President down,” he said.

READ: Bato: If war on drugs fails, bring us back