POLICE Chief Ronald dela Rosa said Wednesday they were winning the war on illegal drugs and vowed to sustain the momentum against the drug syndicates.
He said most Filipinos had started feeling safe in their surroundings and workplaces after the first 100 days of the Duterte administration.
“Somehow, we have achieved the objective to a certain degree of providing the people a safe community despite the criticisms,” Dela Rosa said.
But the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino and its allies expressed dismay over what they said was the administration’s failure to end labor contractualization.
BMP head Leody de Guzman said not a single corporate entity or employment agency was closed or reprimanded for failing to obey labor laws.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, meanwhile, said Wednesday there was a 12-percent increase in employment during the first 100 days of the Duterte administration.
But he said the increase could be attributed partly to the previous administration.
So far, 1,381 drug personalities have been killed while 22,712 others were arrested since Duterte assumed office in July and declared war on illegal drugs.
At least 13 policemen and three soldiers were killed while 39 policemen and eight soldiers were wounded in the fight against illegal drugs.
Statistics also showed that 733,635 people, including 52,940 drug pushers and 680,695 drug users, had surrendered to authorities since the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Dela Rosa said despite criticisms that the Duterte administration was resorting to summary killings in his anti-drug campaign, the war on illegal drugs will continue. With Sandy Araneta
“I’m very proud to say that despite all the criticisms accusing me of extra-judicial killings and summary killings, still I will boldly perform my task of working for the people,” Dela Rosa said.
He said he had been visiting several communities and receiving affirmative feedback on his campaign, and that more people were feeling more secure when out in the streets.
“It doesn’t mean that the campaign is successful if you have killed so many, but the basis of this is the perception of the people feeling safe with what is transpiring in the country, Dela Rosa said.
“Ithey feel safe, then we are winning.” With Sandy Araneta