Palace: Philippines ‘dangerous’ country for criminals, corrupt

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday said the Philippines is a “dangerous” place for criminals after a United States data group ranked the country as the fourth most dangerous place in the world for civilians.

In an analysis released July 3, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (Acled) said the Philippines landed the fourth on the list of countries most dangerous for civilians because of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

READ: US-based data group ranks PH fourth most dangerous place in the world for civilians 

“I agree ‘no, na mapanganib ang bansa sa mga kriminal, sa mga corrupt, sa mga kasama sa sindikato ng droga, talagang mapanganib,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“Kasi hindi naman hihinto ang ating mga law enforcement against criminals and drug lords, pushers who are destroying the fabric of our society. Talagang mapanganib dito. Kaya kung kayo ay mga kriminal, punta kayo sa bansa natin o mga miyembro ng sindikato, talagang mapanganib dito; it’s really dangerous,” panelo added.

Data from the Philippine National Police showed that 6, 600 people were killed in police operations since Duterte launched his brutal drug war in June 2016.

On Thursday, 18 member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) favored Iceland’s resolution to probe the human rights situation in the Philipines.

READ: Action on PH killings gets UN nod