Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) — At least 6,241 individuals have died during the government’s anti-illegal drug operations since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016, data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
Moreover, records disclosed thay 336,796 suspects were arrested during a total of 233,356 anti-illegal drug operations conducted from July 1, 2016 to Mach 31,2022.
Of the arrested drug suspects, 14,888 are considered high value targets. Among them were 360 foreign nationals, 400 elected officials, 126 uniformed personnel, 527 government employees, 4,030 target listed, 797 drug group leaders and members, 78 armed group members, 1,619 drug den maintainers, 295 wanted persons, 24 celebrity and license holders, and 6,632 were arrested from high impact operations.
The PDEA added that a total of 24,766 barangays nationwide have been cleared out of drugs. Meanwhile, 10,704 barangays have yet to be cleared.
Government data also showed that 1,130 drug dens and clandestine laboratories have been dismantled so far.
Authorities also seized P88.83 billion worth of illegal drugs and laboratory equipment. Among the prohibited substances confiscated were shabu, cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2020 found basis that crimes against humanity were committed during the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs. However, Malacañang maintained that it will not cooperate with the ICC investigation.
Duterte, whose term ends in June, earlier admitted that he was wrong to think that he could end the illegal drug trade in the country in three to six months, which he promised when he campaigned for the presidency in 2016.
