35 cops killed in drug war

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 35 policemen have been killed in anti-illegal drug operations in the past six months, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

The PNP said the 35 policemen were killed while pursuing drug personalities as part of President Duterte’s campaign to end the drug problem in the country.

The PNP also reported a total of 79 policemen were wounded during anti-drug operations throughout the country.

The PNP, however, clarified that the cases of 13 policemen killed and 10 others wounded are still being validated.

Police said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also recorded three soldiers killed and eight others wounded in the campaign against illegal drugs. The AFP is assisting the PNP in law enforcement operations.

The PNP-National Operation Center also reported that 2,239 suspected drug offenders were killed by police in alleged gunfights from July 1, 2016 to Jan. 14, 2017 under Project Double Barrel Alpha.

During the same period, the PNP said 45,194 drug users and pushers were arrested in 41,676 police operations in the country’s 18 regions.

The PNP added there were a total of 1,025,473 drug personalities – including 75,648 pushers and 949,825 users – who surrendered after police visited 6,309,617 houses nationwide.