Rodrigo Duterte

Philippines: Death toll in Duterte's war on drugs

Police chief says 1,900 people killed in the anti-drug war halfway through the president's first 100 days in office.

Mohsin Ali, Ted Regencia | | Rodrigo Duterte, Philippines, Asia Pacific, Interactive

Halfway through President Rodrigo Duterte's first 100 days in office, his top police commander said that 1,900 drug-related killings have been recorded, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups who denounced the Philippine leader for "steamrolling the rule of law".

Philippine police chief Ronald dela Rosa said during a Senate hearing that at least 750 of the incidents were linked to police operations. More than 1,100 other cases are still being investigated, he said.

Duterte said that of the three million suspected drug dependents in the country, 600,000 have turned themselves in to authorities. 

INFOGRAPHIC: Who's liable for the mounting death toll?

While saying that it does not condone extrajudicial killings, the office of the president said the country should "seize the momentum" in its campaign against illegal drugs. 

Critics say that can only mean more deaths in the coming days and weeks.

Duterte took his oath as president on June 30 and has vowed to keep his campaign promise of solving the country's illegal drugs problem, saying, "I don't care about human rights, believe me."

As of August 25, an Al Jazeera English investigation has collected information about at least 831 people who were killed across the country.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sun Star Newspaper, Philippine Star, GMA News TV, Rappler, ABS-CBN News, Abante Tonite

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