PNP: Deaths under investigation breach 4,000 mark

The number of deaths under investigation (DUI) by the Philippine National Police has breached the 4,000-mark.

Citing its data, the PNP said there have been 4,049 DUI victims out of the 3,717 incidents from July 1 to December 15, 2016.

More than 2,900 deaths are still being investigated, while 789 investigations have already concluded, the PNP said.

DUIs are not automatically connected with the government's violent war on illegal drugs, the police also said.

Meanwhile, the police said 504 suspects involved in DUIs have been arrested while 285 remain at-large.

In a press briefing, PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa said only about one-third of DUIs are considered drug-related.

"Sa mga 3,000 DUIs may na-find out kami doon na 1,000 plus ang drug-related doon. All others ay hindi drug-related," he said.

Dela Rosa said the remaining unsolved cases may be from syndicates taking advantage of the government's intensified crackdown on illegal drugs.

"Maraming nakisakay sa ating war on drugs, maraming sumabay. So 'yan dapat ang ma-address natin and we are working on that. Hindi po natin 'yan tinigilan porke namatay na tapos napabayaan na lang," Dela Rosa said.  —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News