Close to 8,000 Philippine police officers have recieved administrative punishments, of whom 2,000 were dismissed, for wrongdoings during raids where drug suspects were killed. (Photo: AP)Hanoi(VNA) – Close to 8,000 Philippine police officers have received administrativepunishments, of whom 2,000were dismissed, for wrongdoings during raids where drug suspects were killedunder President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown, a Philippine official said on July 18.
As many as14,724 policemen were investigated for their involvement in police drugoperation that led to deaths of thousands of drug suspects from July 2016 tolast April, Communication Asistant Secretary Marie Rafael Banaag told a newsconference.
Some 7,867 ofthem received administrative punishments, she said but did not specify whatthey have done.
A tallypresented by Banaag showed that 2,367 police officer have been sacked, 4,100 suspended while the rest werereprimanded, demoted, had their salaries forfeited or deprived of certainprivileges.
She did notreveal how many officers have been criminally charged for serious lapses oroutright crimes committed while enforcing the crackdown.
According toPhilippine police, about 6,600 drug suspects have been killed in raids carriedout by the police mostly in gunbattles that ensued after the suspects foughtback and endangered the lives of law enforcers. However, Banaag and otherofficials reported a lower death toll, more than 5,500, saying authorities werestill verifying other drug-related deaths.
The anti-drugcrackdown was launched by President Duterte as his centerpiece programme when hetook office in mid-2016. It was the first time authorities disclosed the fullextent of police who have been disciplined for lapses in the crackdown.–VNA
VNA
