Philippines police kill 32 in bloodiest night of Duterte’s war on drugs

Philippine police killed 32 people in one night this week in a series of raids near the capital Manila, in what’s being considered the bloodiest night of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Senior Superintendent Romeo M. Caramat Jr. said 67 police operations in various parts of Bulacan province Tuesday left 32 suspects killed in encounters with police, while 109 others were arrested.

More than 200 grams of methamphetamine, 786 grams of marijuana, assorted firearms, grenades and ammunition confiscated during the operations, which started on Monday.

Police records show since the nationwide crackdown started, more than 3,200 alleged drug offenders have been killed in gunbattles with law enforcers. More than 2,000 others died in drug-related homicides, including attacks by motorcycle-riding masked gunmen and other assaults.

Duterte won a landslide victory in presidential elections last year after promising an unprecedented war on drugs in which tens of thousands of people would be killed.

He has vowed to protect police who kill drug suspects under suspicious circumstances.

Government figures show that since Duterte took office last year up to 26 July, a total of 3,451 “drug personalities” have been killed in police operations.

Despite warning by human rights groups that Duterte may be committing crimes against humanity he remains a widely popular figure in the Philippines.