President’s anti-drug gun squads slaughter 3,700 in just 100 days
And now he’s hunting down film stars and celebrities
The Philippines presi- dent’s savage war on drugs has claimed nearly 4,000 lives and is now targeting the rich and famous.
In the first 100 days since President Rodrigo Dutarte took office, it is estimated that the death toll of his drug raids is 3,700, an average of 37 killings a day.
The raids come after he said at least 3.7 million Filipinos have become addicted to methamphetamine, known locally as shabu.
he has encouraged citizens to take matters into their own hands with the help of police and alleged secret death squads.
And now, along with uniformed police, the death squads who have trawled the poverty-stricken streets hunting down addicts and dealers are turning their attention to the wealthy districts of Manila and other cities.
Police have launched nearly 25,000 raids and arrested almost as many dealers and addicts – considered the ‘lucky ones’ who did not die, like Aurora Moynihan, the daughter of fugitive British
‘More names being included’
peer Lord Moynihan. She is said to have supplied drugs to the young and wealthy.
The Philippines National Police announced yesterday that it has 54 ‘celebrities’ on an updated drugs list.
It includes figures in the entertainment world who will be arrested or killed, depend- ing on whether they hand themselves in.
Chief Superintendent Oscar Albayalde said the names were based on information provided by two actresses who were arrested because they had been identified as drug users. Some stars have already been arrested.
he did not reveal who was on the list but said the majority were using shabu, cocaine and party drugs. he added: ‘The numbers on the list may increase while the drug operation being carried out in Metro Manila is continuing.
‘every time we make arrests, more names are being included because they were all telling us the persons they transact with.’
Despite scenes of addicts lying dead in the streets after being shot, a recent poll showed that 84 per cent of Filipinos were satisfied with the anti-drugs campaign.