The Philippine National Police (PNP) defended its anti-drug campaign after the British Ambassador criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal drug war for leading to the deaths of thousands of Filipinos. Dionardo Carlos argued that the drug problem should not only be seen as a health issue but a violation of the existing law. “The drug problem is both a health issue and a violation of existing Philippine law,” Carlos said in reaction to the ambassador’s statement. Carlos reiterated the PNP’s anti-drug efforts through “Oplan Double Barrel” have made 1.181 million drug users and pushers surrender. Under the relaunched drug war, which took a month-long hiatus amid the rising number of deaths, Carlos said the police will revisit the “surrenderers” to offer them a community-based drug rehabilitation program with the Department of Health and the local government concerned.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 17, 2017 08:37 UTC