Over 9,000 high value targets arrested, more than 5,000 drug suspects killed in drug war —PDEA

Over 9,000 high value targets have been arrested in more than 160,000 anti-illegal drugs operations in the Duterte administration's war against illegal drugs, government data show.

Latest information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) indicated that a total of 168,525 anti-illegal drugs operations had been conducted from July 1, 2016 to May 31, 2020.

From those operations, 245,135 drug suspects were arrested, including 9,350 high value targets, the PDEA said. The agency also noted that 5,722 suspected drug individuals were killed in those operations.

Of the drug suspects arrested, 376 were government employees, 320 were elected officials, and 90 were uniformed personnel, according to PDEA.

When it comes to clearing barangays from illegal drugs, the data show that a total of 18,582 barangays had been cleared from narcotics. The anti-drug agency said 15,388 barangays have yet to be cleared by authorities.

It also said 560 dens and clandestine laboratories had been dismantled.

The total value of shabu seized was P34.18 billion.

Curbing the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country has been one of the priorities of President Rodrigo Duterte since he assumed presidency in 2016.

His drug war has been highly-criticized not just by groups in the Philippines, but also international organizations, as his violent campaign has been linked to alleged extrajudicial killings.

Recently, the World Organization against Torture (OMCT) and the Children's Legal Rights and Development Center, a Philippines-based group, urged the UN Human Rights Council to launch an independent commission of inquiry into extrajudicial killings and other crimes in the Philippines.

In a report titled "How could they do this to my child?" activist groups said at least 129 children have been killed in the Philippines' four-year war on drugs, most by police or allied assailants, but they may only represent a fraction of the toll. —KBK, GMA News