Philippines among most violent places for civilians — NGO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is a dangerous place for criminals and the corrupt, according to Malacañang, as it countered a report stating that the country is one of the most dangerous places in the world in terms of violence that target civilians.

A report by the United States-based non-government organization Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) Project said the Philippines has the fourth highest number of civilian-targeting events so far in 2019.

The Philippines had a total of 345 violent incidents, just behind India’s 1,385; Syria’s 1,160 and Yemen’s 500, according to the report.

The group recorded nearly 7,700 violent events targeting civilians from Jan. 1 to May 17 across the globe, resulting in over 8,200 reported fatalities.

“I agree, our country is dangerous to criminals, to the corrupt, including the drug syndicates,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said yesterday when asked to react to the report.

“Our law enforcers will not stop their fight against criminals and drug lords, pushers who are destroying the fabric of our society. It’s really dangerous here if you are a criminal or a member of a syndicate,” Panelo added.

Panelo also disputed claims that the drug war deaths have reached 27,000, saying the data included those who were killed in accidents and homicide incidents perpetrated by ordinary civilians. He reiterated that the killings are not state-initiated.

“Almost 100 policemen have died. More than 700 others are in serious condition... I can’t understand why they are not considering these (data). If (they) were self-initiated, no policeman would be killed,” he said.

Panelo also expressed support for official police data, which pegged the number of drug-related deaths at more than 6,000.

ACLED’s ranking ‘unfounded’

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde yesterday branded as unfounded ACLED’s findings, saying the analysis has no basis, given the country’s improved peace and order situation.

“I think that is unfounded. That cannot be covered by data. I really don’t know what is their basis,” Albayalde told reporters at a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The ACLED said the Philippines is among the countries unsafe for civilians because of the drug war.

Albayalde, however, disputed ACLED’s ranking, saying another survey conducted by HSBC Expat placed the Philippines 24th in the list of countries safe to live in and do business, just a notch below the US.

The crime volume, which went down by six percent in the first semester of the year, is another proof that disputes ACLED’s findings, according to Albayalde.

“There should be chaos if we are ranked fourth,” he said.

Albayalde believes the research firm probably based its report solely on the allegations by critics of the administration.

“They probably based ’yung mga sinasabi nila roon lang sa mga maninira na, unfortunately, ay kapwa natin Pilipino,” he said. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Ramon Efren Lazaro