Duterte warns against bloated figures on drug war casualties

Various media groups have said the number of deaths in the war on drugs has reached 13,000, but Duterte disputed this.

 JOEY DALUMPINES/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte set the record straight on the casualties of his administration’s war on drugs, saying the international community is fed bloated figures forced by the opposition into Philippine media.

“Now, count the number of Filipinos, children, mothers, and fathers killed since the advent of drugs. And they vary in number, (saying) that we killed 10,000 or 12,000,” the President said during the 56th Anniversary of the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA) at the Manila Hotel on September 26, 2017.

“Where do you get the facts? You must be idiots. You’re just reading newspaper and say, ‘This Duterte is a killer,’” he said.

“Or you rely on the bias of your representatives because the opposition gave it to them. That has always been… the issue. Even when I was mayor,” he added.

Various media groups have said the number of deaths in the war on drugs has reached 13,000, but Duterte disputed this.

He said in his first year as President, the number of anti-drug operations has reached 70,854, with a total of 3,811 deaths.

“These are legitimate encounters duly recorded,” he said.

He said the number of police officers killed during operations has reached 85, while those wounded number 215.

Soldiers killed in drug-related operations number 146, while those wounded number 2,592.

The President said other countries appear to doubt the official government figures.

“Now, there are some countries which are insulting us to open our records to them, everything. Who are you to do that to my country? If you don’t believe our records, then go out and find something else to do. We do not fabricate,” he said.

“And you say that we are killing our own countrymen? For what reason? ‘You enjoy slaughtering your own countrymen’?” he added.

Despite his strong stance against drugs, Duterte continues to enjoy broad support from Filipinos.

A recent survey by the Pew Research Center showed that around 78 percent of Filipinos approve of the way he has been handling of the illegal drugs issue, with 62 percent believing the government’s campaign was making progress.

The survey also showed 86 percent had a favorable view of him.