CBS: Hitman claims Philippine police pays for drug kills

MANILA, Philippines — A self-confessed hitman claimed that the police are paying people to kill drug users as part of the Philippine government’s campaign against illegal drugs, according to a report released this week by US television network CBS.

“I think we are getting this from the government because this never happened in past administrations. It appears that money is being given to police and the police pays us,” the hitman, identified as alias Delo, was quoted as saying in the report.

“I am more confident because the police (have) my back and it’s an order from the president. That’s why we’re not afraid to kill anymore,” he added.

The hitman claimed that he has killed at least 50 people since last year, earning $400 (around P20,000) for him and his partner for every kill.

He also alleged that the gun that he uses for the kills came from a policeman.

The Philippine National Police denied the allegation, with spokesman Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos stressing that they never hire masked men or vigilante groups as claimed by Delo.

“These are all allegations. They have to prove that,” the spokesman was quoted as saying in the report.

In the same report, CBS also interviewed a self-confessed drug dealer who admitted bribing the police for his safety.

He alleged to have been informed of an operation before it was conducted, enabling him to leave before the others in room were killed.

The CBS report was released in time for the visit of US President Donald Trump in the Philippines for the summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its dialogue partners.

Several groups in the US are calling on Trump to raise the issue of human rights violations allegedly committed by Duterte’s government in connection with the war on drugs.

Thousands have been killed, both in police operations and in drug-related killings perpetrated by alleged vigilantes.

The issue of human rights was not discussed during the bilateral talks yesterday between Trump and Duterte, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque.