Philippine President underlines military role in anti-drug campaign
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced on February 2 that the military will take a leading role in his war on drugs, while vowing to kill more traffickers and addicts.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: EPA/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte announced on February 2 that the military will take a leadingrole in his war on drugs, while vowing to kill more traffickers and addicts.
“I’m taking in the AFP (Armed Forces of thePhilippines) and raising the issue of drugs as a national security threat sothat I will call on all the armed forces to assist,” Duterte said.
His comments came after Amnesty Internationalcriticised the Philippine police for conducting a violent anti-drug campaign,in which more than 6,500 people died in seven months.
Cracking down on crime is one of Duterte’spriorities, with drug crimes a key focus since he took office last year.
Philippine police have reported killing 2,555people in the drug war, while nearly 4,000 others have died in unexplainedcircumstances, according to official figures.-VNA
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (Photo: EPA/VNA) 
