Palace assures 'fair, impartial' investigation of bloody Bulacan raids
In this July 2016 file photo, police probers gather evidence near the bodies of two alleged drug pushers killed in Quiapo, Manila. THE STAR/Joven Cagande
MANILA, Philippines — The Malacañang on Thursday assured the public that the recent series of police operations in Bulacan will be investigated.
“There will be a fair and impartial investigation on the recent Bulacan raids,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.
According to Abella, the Bulacan raids are “not the result of a single action.” He said it is a result of a “wide ranging simultaneous police operations against illegal drug offenders conducted in the whole province of Bulacan.”
On Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte praised the Bulacan raids that have resulted in the deaths of at least 32 drug suspects. He said authorities should kill more drug pushers to reduce the problems plaguing the country.
After the bloody round of deaths in Bulacan, 20 more were reported killed in different areas in Manila overnight.
Based on a News5 report, five people died in Santa Cruz, three in Malate, two in Sampaloc, three at Santa Ana Hospital, four at the Ospital ng Maynila and one in Ermita. Police said sachets of shabu and handguns were recovered at the scenes.
Bulacan police Director Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat said the 66 province-wide operations, held between 12 midnight of August 15 and 12 midnight of August 16, resulted to deaths as they were left with no choice but to use force as many of the suspects resisted arrest.
In his statement, Abella stood by Caramat’s statement.
“Local authorities were met with violent resistance as evidenced by the recovery of firearms, grenades and live ammunition,” Abella said. — Video report by Efigenio Toledo IV
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