Army joins drugs war

MANILA: The Philippine army will create a “battalion size” task force to help the government’s antinarcotics agency run after highvalue targets in President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Duterte – who recently suspended the national police from the anti-narcotics campaign that has killed over 7 700 people in seven months – has ordered the military to play a role in his crackdown. He also wants to grant troops powers to arrest “scalawag” police.

The announcement came after it emerged last month that drug squad officers had killed a South Korean businessman at national police headquarters.

The troops, however, will only provide back-up in the campaign and not patrol the streets or play any kind of leading role. – Reuters