According to Kyodo News, the 15-member missionincludes officials from Japan's Foreign Ministry; National Police Agency; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare; and the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency and the Japanese Embassy in Manila.
Special adviser to Japanese Prime MinisterShinzo Abe, Katsuyuki Kawai, who led the delegation, said Shinzo Abe andRodrigo Duterte highlighted the importance of connections between the twonations in combating drugs during their meeting in Tokyo on October this year.
The delegation will meet with Philippinegovernment agencies in Manila and Davao city, said representatives from theembassy.
According to statistics from the Philippines’snational police, over 3,300 people suspected of involvement with illegal drugtrafficking and use have been killed by authorities since President RodrigoDuterte assumed power on June 30.
The national police carried out nearly 19,000 campaignsagainst illegal drug trade and arrested over 18,000 suspects. Nearly 900,000others gave themselves up to police.-VNA