PNP: Over 1,200 cops faced challenges during Duterte’s drug war

Former President Rodrigo Duterte. PHOTO FROM BONG GO FACEBOOK PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — Over 1,200 police officers faced challenges during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Citing data from July 2016 to June 2022, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil disclosed that 1,286 cops were affected in the line of duty, including 312 who died and 974 who got injured.

“Many officers endured not only physical harm but also found themselves entangled in legal and administrative challenges,” he added.

READ: Duterte admits ordering cops to provoke suspects to fight back

Marbil also reported that 214 cops faced 352 criminal cases during the period.

Although the PNP promised to support police officers, Marbil said “many officers continued to face consequences largely on their own.”

According to him, “195 officers [were] dismissed over the six-year period, and a total of 398 facing dismissal for various reasons. Over 20 of these individuals are currently in detention.”

“The numbers remind us that the impact of the anti-drug campaign was deeply felt by our police force as well,” Marbil said.

“The data show that while civilians were affected, many officers also paid the price in various ways,” he added.

Last October 28, Duterte revealed that he ordered policemen to “encourage suspected criminals to fight back” so that they could be “killed.”

Based on reports, the war on drugs left at least 6,000 people dead.

However, data from human rights watchdog Karapatan showed that at least 30,000 drug suspects were summarily killed, 422 political activists were summarily executed, and there were 544 cases of frustrated extrajudicial killing.