Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said yesterday that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has accomplished 70 percent of its six-month target in the campaign against illegal drugs since it all started in July this year.

President Duterte had originally committed to eliminate problem within six months but subsequently he asked for a six-month extension, citing the severity and magnitude of the drugs crisis.

From the benchmark of 1.8 million pushers and users, Dela Rosa said they have accounted for a total of 1.049 million drug pushers and users — either through the process of surrender, through arrests or through deaths during encounters with police forces.

“The PNP is on a continuous campaign against criminal gangs and personalities… with more focus on the arrest of and accounting for High Value Target personalities in illegal drugs business,” said the PNP Chief.

However, a review of the data released by the PNP showed figures that dispute the 70 percent accomplishment target of the PNP.

Based on the data of the accomplishments being sent to the media by the PNP’s Public Information Office (PIO), a total of 983,232 pushers and users surrendered to the police while a total of 42, 543 were arrested from July to December 27 this year.On the other hand, a total of 2,157 individuals were killed in police operations.

DISCREPANCY IN NUMBERS

These figures would only have 1,027,932 arrested, surrendered or killed — or only a 57-percent accomplishment.

Data from the Directorate for Operations (DO) released by the PIO has a bigger figure of 1,326,472 suspected drug pushers and users from July 1 to December 22.

“Included in the 70 percent are the total of 1,049,302 individuals who have surrendered under Oplan Tokhang; 45,041 who were arrested; 2,295 drug suspects who were killed during police operations; 69,647 drug offenders in jails; 54 under counselling with DSWD; and 147,756 drug personalities arrested or killed from 2010 to June 30, 2016,” it read.

With these figures, it would have been a 74 percent accomplishment for the anti-drugs war, dubbed as Project Double Barrel Alpha.

The problem, however, is that these figures released by the DO are way different from the daily data being sent by the PNP to the media for the Project Double Barrel.

The data also included a figure which is not part of the Project Double Barrel.

2010 DATA INCLUDED

The Project Double Barrel, later upgraded to Project Double Barrel Alpha, was launched on July 1 this year or on the day of the assumption of office of dela Rosa.

But the DO figures that justified the 70 percent accomplishment included a total of 147,756 drug personalities arrested or killed from 2010 to June 30 2016 — hence, partly under the past administration.

Sought for comment, PNP spokesman, Dionardo Carlos said he would ask the DO to explain. But as of press time yesterday, there was no clarification either from the DO or the PIO.

NOT IN THE EQUATION

The figure on fatalities does not include the 3,000 victims of supposed extra-judicial killings although Dela Rosa said not all of them are drug-related.

Among those killed by suspected vigilante groups are the Odicta couple tagged as the main supplier of shabu in Iloilo.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Aaron B. Recuenco

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