Palace spokesman rates Duterte's war on drugs 8.5 out of 10

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential spokesman Harry Roque gave President Duterte a high grade of 8.5 out of 10 in the war on illegal drugs, claiming that the controversial campaign is enjoying popular support in the country. 

Roque said the anti-drug war, which has left more than 4,000 people dead, gave Filipinos a sense of security. 

“I would give him about 8.5. A lot more has to be done,” Roque told reporters in Cavite yesterday when asked to rate the government’s war on illegal drugs.

“But what is important is even the surveys will indicate that a majority of our people, 80 plus (percent) of our people, feel safer, they feel more secure in their homes because of the drive against criminality and the war against drugs,” he added. 

Roque was referring to a September 2017 Pulse Asia poll suggesting that 88 percent of Filipinos back the anti-drug crackdown.

Despite its popularity, the drug war has its own share of critics. Human rights groups and the political opposition claimed that the crackdown encourages abusive practices and extralegal killings.

They noted that Duterte has promised to provide legal protection to policemen and soldiers who would face charges in relation to the campaign. 

Officials, however, insisted that Duterte does not condone unlawful killings and other illegal acts. Authorities also claimed that most of the slain suspects fought back against arresting officers.

A recent study by researchers from Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University claimed that the poor are most vulnerable in the drug war.

The common occupations of people who died in anti-drug operations are tricycle drivers, construction workers, carpenters, vendors, farmers, jeepney drivers and dispatchers and garbage collectors, the study said. 

While critics insist that the campaign only focuses on small-time drug peddlers, the government claims it is winning the war against narcotics. 

Citing police data, Roque said in a recent statement that a total of 91,704 anti-drug operations were conducted from July 2016 to March 20, 2018. The operations led to the arrest of 123,648 drug suspects. A total of 189 drug dens and clandestine laboratories were dismantled and P13.46 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu were seized during the period.