LUCENA CITY, Philippines – At least 47 suspected drug pushers were killed, 326 were arrested and an estimated P8.5 million worth of illegal drugs were seized in this city in 2019.
In a report, Lt. Colonel Romulo Albacea, Lucena police chief, said the drug personalities that were killed were involved in shootouts or “nanlaban” during the 267 anti-illegal drugs operations conducted by police from January to December last year.
But some families of the victims refuted the police version of the killings, claiming their relatives were victims of summary execution.
Local authorities said they were ready to face all investigations if ever there would be one.
But despite the free legal aid offer of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ Quezon, none of the relative of those killed have filed a case against the police.
Local police reportedly seized P8,574,570 worth of illegal drugs composed of 1.6 kilo of “shabu” (crystal meth) and 4.5 kilos of dried marijuana leaves during the same period.
Albacea said drug users have resorted to marijuana as an alternative to shabu.
Police said the drug surrenderers have submitted themselves to local government rehabilitation projects and programs for PWUDs or people who use drugs
The City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac) reported that at least 26 out of 33 villages in this capital city of Quezon province have been declared “drug- free” as of November last year.
The local police have been actively pursuing its “Oplan Magilas,” a massive anti-criminality campaign in the city to flush out the few remaining drug victims in the seven villages.