Bloodiest Drug War: Philippine Police Kill 32 In One Day

In what is the bloodiest crackdown on drugs in the country, Philippine police carried out a raid on suspected drug traffickers across Bulacan province on Monday, killing 32 people.

The “shock and awe” raid was aimed at scaring drug traffickers, Romeo Caramat, the Bulacan police chief, told reporters in Manila on Wednesday.

“We wanted to shock and awe these drug personalities,” Caramat said, adding 109 suspects had also been arrested.

“Other drug personalities will think twice before continuing with their drug trade.”

Caramat explained that the police killed the suspects in self defence, adding that weapons including guns and grenade were recovered during the raid.

“We know we have done nothing wrong,” he told the AFP.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to crackdown on drug trafficking, which was part of his campaign promises prior to last year’s presidential election.

During his 14 months in power, police and suspected vigilantes has killed thousands of people, leading to warnings by rights groups that he may be overseeing a crime against humanity.

However, the president, who is limited by the constitution to serving a single term of six years, conceded last week that he may be unable to deliver on his campaign pledge.

“Look, these shabu (meth) and drugs, et cetera, cannot be solved by one man, for a president for one term. It has bogged nations (down),” he said in his southern home city of Davao on Friday.