Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1) — A total of 362 elected officials were among the 10,721 high-value targets arrested in various anti-illegal drug operations since 2016, latest data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency showed.
These high-value targets were among those arrested in 183,525 anti-illegal drug operations conducted from July 1, 2016 to Oct. 31 this year.
Aside from elected officials, also apprehended were 287 foreign nationals, 102 uniformed personnel, 445 government employees, 3,098 target-listed individuals, 751 drug group leaders/members, 66 armed group members, 1,035 drug den maintainers, 232 wanted-listed persons, 18 celebrities and license holders, and 4,325 from high-impact operations.
The latest data also showed that 5,942 people have died so far from all anti-illegal drug operations since 2016. Law enforcers were also able to seize ₱56.26-billion worth of drugs, chemicals, and laboratory equipment. A total of 7,413.17 kilograms of shabu worth ₱46.42 billion were seized.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs has been heavily criticized by human rights advocates since its implementation four years ago. Despite the controversial extrajudicial killings linked to the anti-illegal drug operations, Duterte has maintained that the administration’s drug war is not a “crime against humanity.”
An international rights group had alleged in its report last September that the number of drug-war deaths has worsened during pandemic lockdown periods.
Several local government officials have been arrested since then for allegedly using or trading illegal drugs.
Among the most notable arrests happened during a raid in the properties of the Parojinog clan in Ozamis City in 2017. It led to the apprehension of then city councilor Ricardo Parojinog and vice mayor Nova Parojinog. The raid also led to the death of former mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Sr.
