MANILA, Philippines-Victims of serial summary executions were allegedly killed by crime syndicates particularly drug rings who have direct links to them, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. The head of the PNP issued the statement following calls to probe the surge in alleged vigilante killings.
Speaking at a command conference at Camp Crame on Tuesday, August 16, dela Rosa said data from their intelligence reports would reveal that drug groups were behind the syndicated killings believed by many to be perpetrated by vigilante groups. However, dela Rosa refused to detail their findings.
PHOTO CREDIT: PhilStar
“Magugulat na lang kayo kapag may inilabas kami ng mga data, mga facts kung sino-sino ang mga nagpapatayan,” dela Rosa said.
(You’ll be surprised when we release the data, facts on who’s killing who.)
In the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s The Kill List, there had been 646 casualties in the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs as of August 15 since President Rodrigo Duterte took power on June 30. Most were killed in police operations while others were murdered by unidentified assailants.
In his bid to eradicate criminality and corruption within three to six months, Duterte said he would reward police officers who kill drug lords. Duterte promised a reward money of P5 million for killing of drug lords, P2 million for drug distributors and P50,000 for “small time” drug dealers.
Duterte also urged ordinary citizens to arrest drug traffickers and shoot them if they resist arrest and put other people’s lives in danger.
The Senate committee on justice will hold a hearing on the spate of drug-related killings on August 22 and 23.
Companies Discouraged from Investing in PH due to Extrajudicial Killings
In his interview with CNN Philippines, Jose Cuisia, Jr., chair of Philippines-United States Business Council, said companies are discouraged from investing in the country due to the rise in the number of extrajudicial killings. According to him, business owners prioritize the safety of their employees and the continuity of their operations.