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Philippines: Drug raids and prisons

A glimpse inside the police operations sweeping the Philippines as part of President Duterte’s war on drugs.

Witnesses said they saw masked men with helmets and ski masks entering the building, firing shots, and leaving on motorcycles. They left behind a sign reading 'drug pusher'. The police later told journalists on the scene that the man's partner was also targeted, but managed to get away. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Witnesses said they saw masked men with helmets and ski masks entering the building, firing shots, and leaving on motorcycles. They left behind a sign reading 'drug pusher'. The police later told journalists on the scene that the man's partner was also targeted, but managed to get away. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
By Alberto Maretti
6 Oct 2016

Manila, Philippines – The trail of blood that has coloured the streets of the city for three months continues to flow.

Since the end of June, President Rodrigo Duterte has led a war on drugs, dealers and addicts. He is fulfilling his campaign promise of eradicating the problem of drugs in the country by killing those involved in the trade.

Latest reports indicate that in fewer than three months more than 3,700 people have been killed. At night, armed police of vigilantes go around targeting drug dealers and addicts.

In an anti-drugs operation called Oplan Tokhang, the police move around with a list compiled through informers of people they believe to be connected to the world of drugs. Going house to house, they try to convince these suspects to “surrender”.

READ MORE: Inside Duterte’s killer drug war

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people have surrendered through these types of operations. Many people are turning themselves in for fear of being executed. Prisons have become heavily overcrowded.

Despite the very high human cost of this policy, it is leading to a turning point in the war on drugs. The popularity of President Duterte is growing, as the security situation is improving and people say they feel their everyday lives are getting better.

The deaths have attracted a strong condemnation from the international community, including the United Nations, with only angry responses from Duterte in return.

Ruth Jane Sombreo, 40, said her husband Cogie Sebastian was killed during a police operation in their own house. She went to the morgue to see the body but the morgue owners demanded a payment she could not afford, so they refused to let her in. The husband was the only one with an income to support her and their three children. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Ruth Jane Sombreo, 40, said her husband Cogie Sebastian was killed during a police operation in their own house. She went to the morgue to see the body but the morgue owners demanded a payment she could not afford, so they refused to let her in. The husband was the only one with an income to support her and their three children. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
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Prisoners wait inside a special cell while the guards conduct a special search inside the prison to find illegal objects and drugs inside. The prison has a total of six cells, some of which hold up to 345 prisoners, including 34 women. The search yielded only some prohibited items, including razor blades, matches and lighters - no drugs. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Prisoners wait inside a special cell while the guards conduct a special search inside the prison to find illegal objects and drugs inside. The prison has a total of six cells, some of which hold up to 345 prisoners, including 34 women. The search yielded only some prohibited items, including razor blades, matches and lighters - no drugs. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Police conduct a search of the cells inside a prison while prisoners wait in a special cell [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Police conduct a search of the cells inside a prison while prisoners wait in a special cell [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Police stand on guard inside the jail during a security search. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Police stand on guard inside the jail during a security search. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
The body of Nunoy C, killed by one shot in the neck, lies on a street. A witness awaits to talk to the police arriving on the scene. The police said that it was a crime related to the drug world. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
The body of Nunoy C, killed by one shot in the neck, lies on a street. A witness awaits to talk to the police arriving on the scene. The police said that it was a crime related to the drug world. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
A mother and daughter sit in front of the coffin of Noel VS, killed by vigilantes outside a 24-hour mini-shop. Accused of being involved in the drug trade, he was shot at several times by masked men. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
A mother and daughter sit in front of the coffin of Noel VS, killed by vigilantes outside a 24-hour mini-shop. Accused of being involved in the drug trade, he was shot at several times by masked men. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
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Night-time checkpoints have become common in Manila. In addition to checking documents of vehicles and passengers, the police also search people they suspect of having a connection with drug-related or other crimes. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Night-time checkpoints have become common in Manila. In addition to checking documents of vehicles and passengers, the police also search people they suspect of having a connection with drug-related or other crimes. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
At a police station in the Talipapa area of Manila, 57 prisoners, all linked to drug-related crimes, are being held in a cell of four metres by five. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
At a police station in the Talipapa area of Manila, 57 prisoners, all linked to drug-related crimes, are being held in a cell of four metres by five. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
This neighbourhood in Manila is very poor and many people were involved in the sale of narcotics to make money. Residents say police operations here targeted people who had nothing to do with drug trafficking. [Alberto Maretti /Al Jazeera]
This neighbourhood in Manila is very poor and many people were involved in the sale of narcotics to make money. Residents say police operations here targeted people who had nothing to do with drug trafficking. [Alberto Maretti /Al Jazeera]
Rudy De Chavez, 77, witnessed the murder of his son Virgilio De Chavez, 55. The man had gone out of the house to fix a water pipe when a group of men shot him. Rudy says that it was the police, as they were all in uniforms. The family has not received any explanation from the authorities. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Rudy De Chavez, 77, witnessed the murder of his son Virgilio De Chavez, 55. The man had gone out of the house to fix a water pipe when a group of men shot him. Rudy says that it was the police, as they were all in uniforms. The family has not received any explanation from the authorities. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
A patient in a rehabilitation clinic in Bulacan Drug Rehabilitation Foundation Inc. The clinic is private and is home to more than 100 patients. Since President Duterte started the war against drugs, requests for admissions have risen significantly. The clinic founded by Dr Ramirez does not receive government funding and charges for treatment. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
A patient in a rehabilitation clinic in Bulacan Drug Rehabilitation Foundation Inc. The clinic is private and is home to more than 100 patients. Since President Duterte started the war against drugs, requests for admissions have risen significantly. The clinic founded by Dr Ramirez does not receive government funding and charges for treatment. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Police photographing a man who has decided to surrender during an anti-drug operation called Oplan Tokhang. Once the suspect agrees to surrender, the police process the case by photographing the person with a board that has personal details, then fingerprinting, and then the person is made to sign a statement of surrender. It is estimated that nearly 115,000 people have surrendered in July 2016. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
Police photographing a man who has decided to surrender during an anti-drug operation called Oplan Tokhang. Once the suspect agrees to surrender, the police process the case by photographing the person with a board that has personal details, then fingerprinting, and then the person is made to sign a statement of surrender. It is estimated that nearly 115,000 people have surrendered in July 2016. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
A commemoration event and rejection of the martial law signed on September 23, 1972 by then President Ferdinand E Marcos became a protest against the policy of war on drugs adopted by President Duterte. A crowd marched through the streets of the capital holding signs protesting against extrajudicial executions and calling for an immediate end to this practice. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
A commemoration event and rejection of the martial law signed on September 23, 1972 by then President Ferdinand E Marcos became a protest against the policy of war on drugs adopted by President Duterte. A crowd marched through the streets of the capital holding signs protesting against extrajudicial executions and calling for an immediate end to this practice. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
A Chinese man is interrogated after being detained in a police anti-drug operation that led to the discovery of a drugs super-laboratory. The laboratory, set up and run by Chinese criminals, could produce up to 100kg of drugs a day, according to the police. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
A Chinese man is interrogated after being detained in a police anti-drug operation that led to the discovery of a drugs super-laboratory. The laboratory, set up and run by Chinese criminals, could produce up to 100kg of drugs a day, according to the police. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
The 19-year-old son of JC was killed during a police operation together with a friend. The father has no money to pay for his burial. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]
The 19-year-old son of JC was killed during a police operation together with a friend. The father has no money to pay for his burial. [Alberto Maretti/Al Jazeera]

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