Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jul 2016
Source: Straits Times (Singapore)
Copyright: 2016 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.
Contact:  http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/429

DUTERTE'S WAR ON DRUGS A 'SUCCESS'

MANILA - The Philippine government yesterday hailed its war on drugs 
a "success", as police confirmed killing nearly 200 people in a 
two-month blitz that has outraged rights groups.

President Rodrigo Duterte's office released a statement calling for 
the authorities to "seize the momentum" of the anti-drug campaign, 
which has also led to a spate of vigilante killings that one media 
group claims to have taken some 200 more lives.

"Anti-drug campaign a success," said the title of the statement, 
released by presidential spokesman Martin Andanar. "While the 
campaign against drugs is far from perfect, a generation of Filipinos 
have been saved from this scourge of society and destroyer of lives."

The statement was issued as police released figures showing that 
officers had killed at least 192 people they said were involved in 
drugs from May 10 to July 10.

Mr Duterte won the May 9 elections in a landslide after promising in 
his campaign to eradicate crime within six months by unleashing 
security forces with shoot-to-kill orders.

- -AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom