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| PNP Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa |
On Thursday, as much as ₱1.77 billion-worth of illegal drugs, including 180 kilos of shabu recovered from an abandoned farm in Cagayan early this month, were destroyed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Cavite.
Human rights groups such as the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and Amnesty International are all behind the campaign against illegal drugs but they fear the crackdown has promoted vigilantism and encouraged extra-judicial killings.
The intensified campaign against illegal drugs has resulted in the rising number of suspected drug pushers and users killed during police operations and other drug-related slayings.
CNN Philippines Research shows 143 suspected drug dealers and users were killed during police operations and 56 others by unknown assailants from July 1 to 12.
PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa is not discounting the possibility that vigilante groups were involved. However, members of drug syndicates are also killing each other, he said.
"Itong drug syndicate ngayon … they are killing each other,” he said.
[Translation: These drug syndicates now … they are killing each other.]
He said that because of the intense anti-drug campaign, some distributors are unable to pay their sources.
“'Yung ibang nakakulong sa bilibid, tatawagan ang mga hitman nila sa labas na patayin si distributor na ganito kasi hindi na nag-re-remit sa atin," said dela Rosa.
[Translation: Some of those in Bilibid will call their hitmen outside, giving orders to kill this particular distributor because he could not remit to us.]
Dela Rosa cited an alleged drug pusher whom he did not identify who surrendered to him on Wednesday claiming that a drug lord is threatening to kill him.
The PNP Chief denied police were involved were responsible for the other killings. Typically, the victims of these killings are found on deserted streets with signs attached to their bodies identifying them as drug pushers.
"Sige kayo turo sa pulis, pulis ang pinagsususpetsahan ninyo. Ang pulis naman ang ginagawa legitimate operations," he said.
[Translation: You often point to the police, you always suspect the police. But the police only conduct legitimate operations.]
He said he will not condone policemen involved in extrajudicial killings.
Human rights groups are calling for an independent probe of the killings to ensure that the rights of suspects are not violated.
"Impunity for any excesses or shortcuts may encourage – wittingly or unwittingly – vigilantism and summary killings even in the name of the innocent," said NUPL Secretary General Edre Olalia.
The Amnesty International said in a statement that the killings send a message that “it is OK to break the law for some and not for others.”
“Under no circumstances must the PNP engage or incite the use of extra-judicial executions,” it said.
