More than 3,600 arrested, 37 died in anti-illegal drug ops since Nov. 1 – Año

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 24) – Around 3,600 suspects were apprehended from nearly 3,000 anti-illegal drug operations of the Philippine National Police since Nov. 1, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año bared on Monday night.

As of Nov. 21, Año said there were 3,646 persons arrested and 37 died all throughout the 2,946 operations by PNP.

During these operations, 50.5 kilogram of shabu and 11.7 kg of marijuana, with a street value of ₱345 million, were also seized.

With the administration’s anti-drug war, President Rodrigo Duterte told law enforcers not to be afraid of the “threats” of human rights advocates.

“Huwag kayong matakot pumatay. Hayaan niyo yang human rights. Basta you do it in accordance with law,” he said during his weekly address. “Again, the only time when you are allowed to kill is when your life is in danger.”

Duterte has always reiterated that his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs is not a “crime against humanity” as his critics suggest.

An international rights group said in its report last September that the number of drug-war deaths has worsened during the lockdown brought by the pandemic.

From July 1, 2016 up to Sept. 30 this year, data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency showed that 5,903 have died during anti-illegal drug operations.

Despite fresh calls from the international community, the government said there is no need for the United Nations to look into the killings and other human rights violations in the country.