26 die in Manila after ‘resisting’ in MPD anti-drug ops

(Updated, 12:54 p.m., Aug. 17) Suspected drug personalities who were killed in Manila have reached 26 after the Manila Police District’s (MPD) “one-time, big-time” anti-drug operations on Wednesday, dzIQ Radyo Inquirer 990 reported on Thursday.

The MPD initially reported  that 18 suspected drug personalities were killed but follow-up investigations proved that more than that number were found to have resisted or retaliated with the police operations.

“Initially meron po tayong 18 (drug suspects killed) pero meron pa pong iniimbestigahan ang Manila Police District homicide section kaya ico-coconfirm pa rin natin. Siguro by the end of the day malalaman po natin kung ilan na po yung total,” MPD Spokesperson Supt. Erwin Margarejo said when asked in an interview over dzIQ Radio Inquirer 990 on how many drug suspects were killed during the drug raids in Manila.

(Initially, we have 18 drug suspects killed but the Manila Police District homicide section is still confirming the other cases. Maybe by the end of the day we can determine the exact number)

When asked if the suspected drug users and pushers tried to resist the policemen, Margarejo said, “meron po kaming sinusunod na rules of engagement (We are following the provisions under the rules of engagement).”

“Most probably ang mga suspect na ito pinutukan ang ating mga pulis kaya wala nang choice ang mga pulis kundi depensahan ang kanilang sarili (these suspects fired at our policemen that is why our law enforcers were given no other choice but to retaliate and defend themselves),” Margarejo said.

The MPD spokesperson said the latest number of drug suspects did not exactly mean that illegal drug activities have started to regain posture in the country’s capital.

“Ito po ay resulta ng one-time big time operation. Hindi porke po marami pong na-neutralize ngayong araw ay nagbalikan na po yang mga illegal activities lalo na sa illegal drugs. Alam naman po natin simula nung nakaraang taon ay patuloy po ang programang pinapatupad ng MPD,” he said.

(This is the result of the one-time, big-time operation. It doesn’t mean the high number of suspects neutralized would translate to the return of illegal activities especially illegal drugs. We all know that since last year we are continuing the implementation of our program)

Margarejo added that out of all the 11 police stations in Manila, only stations 1 and 7 did not “yield good accomplishment last night.”

He added that no policeman was reportedly injured or killed during the operations, saying that the MPD would continue to intensify its campaign against illegal drugs.

“Makakaasa po kayo na ito ay magpapatuloy. Kaya ako po ay nananawagan sa ating mga kababayan dito po sa lungsod ng Maynila na involved po sa mga illegal activities, ngayon pa lang po tigilan nyo na po or iwasan n’yo na po ma-involve sa mga illegal activities dahil it’s either ma-apprehend po kayo o kung kayo po ay manlalaban sa ating kapulisan, wala pong last resort ang mga pulis kundi i-neutralize,” Margarejo said.

(We assure the public that operations like this will continue. We call on the residents of  Manila who are involved in illegal activities to stop because either you will be apprehended or, if you resist our policemen, their last resort would be to neutralize)

The MPD spokesman also assured the public that no innocent individuals would be involved in their operations but only those truly involved in the illegal drug trade.

“Makakaasa po kayo na lahat ng operations ay pre-meditated o well-planned, at makakaasa po kayo na wala pong mistaken identity na magaganap sa ano mang operasyon sa MPD,” Margarejo said.

(We assure you that all operations are pre-meditated or well-planned, thus, no cases of mistaken identity will happen in any operations of the MPD)

“Hindi po self-serving and validation ng ating kapulisan. Naka-rely din po ang pag-asa ng kapulisan sa kooperasyon ng ating community,” he added.

(Our validation of information is not self-serving. We also rely from the cooperation of our communities) JPV

RELATED STORIES

Bulacan PNP war on drugs: 32 suspects killed in 24 hours

‘That’s good,’ says Duterte on killing of 32 Bulacan druggies