IN DEFENSE of his men, Philippine National Police (PNP) director general Ronald dela Rosa said Friday, March 23, that the 13 drug suspects killed during overnight anti-illegal drugs operations by the Bulacan police had resisted arrest and engaged the officers in gunfights.
"Mangyari at mangyari talaga 'yan kapag magsipag ang ating mga pulis, 'yung ating mga drug enforcement units, na magtrabaho," he said. (That really happens if our drug enforcement units do their job.)
"Huwag ninyong masyadong magtutok doon sa namatay, tutukan niyo 'yung nahuli, kung ilang libo ang nahuli natin ngayon, sa isang araw ilang libo ang nahuhuli at ilang libo ang nagsu-surrender sa isang araw. Ganon katindi ang problema natin sa droga ngayon," he added.
(Do not focus on the fatalities. Focus on the number of suspects arrested. In just one day, thousands were arrested and thousands surrendered. That shows how bad the illegal drug situation is.)
Bulacan Police Provincial Police Office chief Senior Superintendent Romeo Caramat reported on Thursday that 13 drug suspects were killed while more than 100 others were arrested during the conduct of at least 60 anti-illegal drugs operations in nine towns.
Seized during the operations were 19 firearms and at least 250 sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.
"Unfortunately, 13 of the suspects were killed when our officers fired in self-defense shortly after the suspects who were armed with concealed guns sensed they were being entrapped and started firing," Caramat said.
In August, 32 drug suspects were killed in the Bulacan police’s 24-hour simultaneous one time big time operations.
Caramat said the conduct of the said operations were part of an intensified campaign against drugs and all other forms of criminality in the province.
Over 4,000 drug suspects have been killed since the administration launched its war on drugs in July 2016. (SunStar Philippines)