14/03/2025
THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION’S DRUG WAR: FACTS & FIGURES
Editorial: Tio Moreno
During the 62nd Session of the Commission on Narcotics and Drugs Ministerial Segment in Vienna on March 14, 2019, H.E. Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., then Secretary of Foreign Affairs, presented the official numbers from the Duterte administration’s War on Drugs:
- 128,000 police operations conducted
- 331 police officers killed, 397 wounded
- 200,600 drug dealers arrested
- 139,400 cases filed in court
- $106 million worth of illegal drug assets frozen
- $499 million worth of drugs and lab equipment seized
- 11,000 barangays cleared of drugs
- 2,016 minors rescued
- 1.4 million individuals surrendered for rehabilitation
- 30% decrease in crime
- 8% of the police force disciplined
- 362 police officers dismissed
Why Are These 2019 Facts Important?
This is important because critics argue that the ICC still has jurisdiction over cases that occurred before the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.
However, if we analyze the above figures, it’s clear that the Philippine judicial system was fully functioning—as shown by the number of police dismissed and the number of cases filed in court.
Under the principle of complementarity, the ICC can only intervene if a country is unwilling or incapable of prosecuting crimes itself. But the Philippines did prosecute those involved in misconduct.
One of the most sensationalized cases, that of Kian Delos Santos, proves this point.
The three police officers involved were found guilty of murder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua. Moreover, claims that they planted drugs and fi****ms were proven false, as the court acquitted them of planting evidence.
According to PNP data presented in a command conference at Camp Crame, a total of 6,600 drug suspects died in anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016, to May 31, 2019.
These figures demonstrate that investigations and prosecutions have taken place. According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 214 police officers faced 352 criminal cases related to the drug war. Among them, 195 officers were dismissed from service, 398 were facing dismissal for various offenses, and over 20 individuals were in detention, with other cases still ongoing.
In 2023, a police officer was convicted for torturing two teenagers and planting evidence against them.
As of June 2024, a total of 8 police officers had been successfully prosecuted for drug war-related killings. Additionally, 4 officers were convicted of homicide for the 2016 killings of a father and his son in Caloocan City.
These convictions and disciplinary actions prove that justice is being served and that rogue police officers who commit abuses are being held accountable.
However, certain human rights groups claim that up to 30,000 people were killed. But this figure is highly questionable.
- Where is the evidence for 30,000 deaths?
- What are the names of these supposed 30,000 victims?
Even the ICC warrant of arrest mentions only 43 cases—a number far from the 30,000 being claimed.
Additionally, for killings to qualify as extrajudicial (EJKs) under ICC standards, they must be widespread and systematic. If only 43 cases are cited, how does that meet the threshold of "widespread and systematic"?
Before forming an opinion on the War on Drugs, look at the actual data. The Philippines had a functioning judicial system, handled cases accordingly, and even prosecuted its own police officers when necessary.
Be critical of unverified numbers and politically motivated narratives—because facts matter.
