Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald Dela Rosa (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) – Philippine policeare ready to resume the war on drug trade launched by President RodrigoDuterte, police chief Ronald Dela Rosa said on February 27.
Speaking at a press conference, the police chiefstressed that they are ready to get back to the war if given orders of the President.
The sooner police return, the better the fightbecomes, otherwise gains made against drug trade could be lost, he affirmed.
Despite his denunciation of the police,President Duterte told the media that he could allow the force to resumeanti-drug operations, saying that drug trading activities on the streets hasrisen 20 percent since the police withdrew from the campaign.
Over 8,000 lives have been claimed since thenational crackdown on drugs was instigated by President Duterte when he tookoffice in the middle of last year. There are also over 1 million people whohave been captured or surrendered themselves.
Last month, Duterte criticised the police for“being corrupt to the core” and halted the police involvement in the campaignsalthough he committed to continue the campaigns.-VNA
In a speech marking 100 days in office, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stated to continue his crackdown on drug crime despite western criticisms.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on February 2 that the military will take a leading role in his war on drugs, while vowing to kill more traffickers and addicts.
Nearly 100 policemen have been dismissed since the start of the year because they were found to be drug users, in a clean-up of the ranks after President Rodrigo Duterte halted police anti-drug operations, according to a local senior official.
The Philippine army will establish a battalion-sized task force to help the government’s anti-narcotics agencies track down high-level targets in the war on drugs launched by President Rodrigo Duterte.
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