Philippines cracking down on drugusing police

MANILA: The Philippine police have sacked nearly 100 police officers since the start of the year because they were found to be drug users, in a cleanup of the ranks after President Rodrigo Duterte halted police antidrug operations, a top official said on Saturday.

More than 7700 people have been killed since Duterte unleashed his bloody war on drugs seven months ago, about 2500 in police operations, while the rest are being investigated.

Duterte had been unwavering in defending the police in the face of international outrage over the toll, but his faith was shaken by the killing of a South Korean businessmen late last year by rogue officers.

Ninety police officers have been fired since the start of the year and nine were removed last year, Internal Affairs Service Inspectorgeneral Alfegar Triambulo said in comments broadcast on ANC TV.

‘‘Those caught using illegal drugs, according to the civil service rules, must be dismissed . . . that is a grave offence,’’ Triambulo said, adding that he had promised the chief of police that he would quickly resolve outstanding cases.

Triambulo also said he would recommend next week the dismissal of 40 more policemen to the chief of police.

Last month, Duterte denounced the police as ‘‘corrupt to the core’’ and suspended their role in antidrug operations, although he vowed to forge ahead with the drug campaign.