Philip­pine police back in drug war despit­e being accuse­d of human rights violat­ions in drug relate­d crimesPHILLIPINES: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the police to actively support the drugs enforcement agency in his anti-narcotics war, his spokesperson said on Tuesday, citing a resurgence in illegal drugs. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, or PDEA, will remain the lead agency in the fight against drugs, but the spokesperson, Harry Roque, said the police along with other agencies “shall resume to provide active support to PDEA,” citing a memorandum signed by Duterte. Duterte initially suspended the police’s anti-narcotics operations in January, after questions at home and abroad were raised about police conduct. Philippines Duterte says only answers to his people on drugs war, human rightsPolice say nearly 4,000 people have been killed in their anti-drug operations. The drug enforcement agency has only a fraction of the manpower of the 190,000-strong police.

Source: The Express Tribune December 05, 2017 11:57 UTC