MANILA, Philippines – Semantics matters, particularly when talking about persons killed in the government’s war on illegal drugs.
The Philippine National Police insisted yesterday that deaths under investigation (DUIs) are not cases of extrajudicial killing (EJK).
“DUIs are cases of murder and homicide pending investigation. DUIs are not EJK cases,” PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said.
In many cases, bodies of DUI victims were found with cardboard signs identifying them as drug pushers and police investigators claim they have yet to establish the motive and identities of the killers.
Carlos said the PNP National Operation Center said there were 1,967 cases of DUI recorded in 18 regions in the country from July 1 to Oct. 14.
The center said there were 2,508 incidents with 2,730 victims and 541 cases or 21.57 percent have been filed in court.
The PNP also changed the word “killed” with “neutralized” when talking about the number of deaths in the government campaign against illegal drugs.
From July 1 to Oct. 18, the PNP said 1,661 drug individuals neutralized and 29,910 others arrested in 31,215 anti-drug operations nationwide.
The PNP visited 2,247,981 homes for Oplan Tokhang, which resulted 746,066 persons surrendering, including 54,278 pushers and 691,788 users.
During the same period, the PNP said 13 police officers were killed while 40 others were wounded in anti-drug operations. Three members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were killed and eight others were wounded in these operations.
Carlos said 157 police officers and seven civilian employees of the PNP tested positive for illegal drugs.