MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) claimed that amid criticisms from various groups, the government was winning the three year-old antidrug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde on Monday said the administration’s war on drugs has been a success despite numerous casualties.
“I think sinasabi, palaging tinatanong if we are winning the war against illegal drugs. Definitely we are. Ang magandang manifestation dito ay ‘yung pag-improve ng ating peace and order,” Albayalde said.
“I think kahit naman ‘yung community natin sila na mismo ang nagsasabi na they are safer now than before,” he added.
But Albayalde admitted that there are still a lot to do to completely curb illegal drugs in the country, assuring that the PNP will exert more efforts to maintain the campaign.
“Malaki pa ang dapat nating gawin. Hindi pa tapos ito. With the three years remaining ng ating Pangulo, on the part of the PNP, if we have to double time,” Albayalde said.
The assessment came after the Human Rights Watch said the government’s war against illegal drugs did not only result in the deaths of thousands, but devastated the lives of countless children.
Numbers from the government showed that 6,600 drug suspects were killed from the time Duterte started the campaign when he assumed the presidency on July 1, 2016.
