DOJ: 71 drug war-related cases filed since July 2016

MANILA, Philippines — Out of the thousands killed in the conduct of the Duterte administration's so-called war on drugs, only 71 murder and homicide cases nationwide have been filed before the Department of Justice since the president took office last year.

The DOJ has released an inventory of murder and homicide cases allegedly related to the government's anti-drug campaign filed before its prosecution offices since July 1, 2016.

The list showed that there was a nationwide total of 45 cases (seven pending, 25 dismissed and 13 filed in court) where the victim, who is an alleged drug suspect, was killed during legitimate law enforcement operations.

There was no case filed regarding collateral damage during police anti-illegal drugs operations.

Meanwhile, there was a nationwide total of 26 (10 pending, 10 dismissed and six filed in court) cases where the victim, an alleged drug suspect, was killed outside police operations.

For the nationwide total, there are still 17 pending cases while 35 cases have been dismissed and 19 have been filed in court.

The highest number of cases filed before DOJ prosecution offices were recorded in the National Capital Region with a total of 45 cases.

In the NCR, there were 26 cases where the victim was killed during legitimate police operations while 19 cases where the victim was killed outside police operations.

Upon assuming office on June 30, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to end the illegal drug trade in the country in three to six months.

Duterte, however, recently admitted that he was wrong to assume that he can end the drug problem in the country. This is amid thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings and summary executions. — Patricia Lourdes Viray

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