Filipino mayor killed by anti-drug police

MAKILALA, PHILIPPINES // A mayor who was publicly accused of drug trafficking by Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte two months ago was killed along with nine other men in a clash with police yesterday in the deadliest operation so far in the anti-drug campaign. Samsudin Dimaukom, of Datu Saudi Ampatuan township in southern Maguindanao province, had given himself up to police in August after Mr Duterte named him and more than 150 other officials as players in drug trafficking.

He denied involvement, said he was fighting illegal drugs and supported the president’s actions.

The 10 were killed at dawn after they opened fire from a van and an SUV on officers manning a checkpoint, police said. Police received information that Dimaukom’s group was planning to transport a huge amount of methamphetamine from Davao city to Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

Since Mr Duterte took office, police arrested more than 31,600 drug suspects and more than 750,000 people, mostly drug users, have surrendered to authorities.

Police have inspected more than 2.6 million homes. On Wednesday, police launched another phase of the operation that they say will focus on those who lead largescale drug production.

Mr Duterte said on Thursday that he still had a long list of drug suspects, including politicians, village officials, judges and policemen.