US official airs concern on Phl’s drug war

MANILA, Philippines -  While the United States recognizes the Philippine government’s commitment in the fight against illegal drugs, it is concerned about the way the campaign is being implemented under the Duterte administration, with rising reports of rampant killings and human rights abuses.

“The United States does recognize the Philippines’ commitment to fight drugs but… the Philippine government approach raises some significant concerns relating to human rights and due process,” Luis Arreaga, principal deputy assistant secretary of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said in a teleconference from Washington Tuesday evening.

“We are deeply concerned about reports of extrajudicial killings by or at the behest of government authorities in the Philippines,” Arreaga said.

On Monday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported 6,011 deaths labeled as homicide cases since Duterte took office in July last year.

Drug-related killings totaled 1,398 while 3,785 of the cases were classified as deaths under investigation and the rest committed with different motives.

The killing of a Korean businessman by policemen right inside Camp Crame prompted President Duterte to temporarily remove the PNP from his anti-drug campaign last January. Before the suspension, police reported killing 2,555 drug offenders who allegedly fought it out with law enforcers.

Since the resumption of the PNP’s participation in the war on drugs this month, a total of 60 suspected drug pushers and users have been killed in police operations.

Sought for comment, PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos insisted they are following Duterte’s instructions to respect human rights and the rule of law in dealing with lawbreakers.

He said the President had never ordered them to shoot drug offenders on sight.

Moreover, police officers are fully aware of the criminal and administrative cases they would be facing if they violate the law, Carlos said.

“We will only use lethal force when our lives are in danger,” he said in a brief interview.

In the Washington news briefing, Arreaga also cited the growing danger posed by heroin and designer or synthetic drugs such as fentanyl.

“Synthetic drugs are dangerous. They are spreading quickly and the international architecture that exist to control them is inadequate,” he said.

He cited a study showing 33,000 Americans have died from opioid overdose.  –  With Christina Mendez