CORRECTS - Philippines: 271 suspects killed in anti-drug campaign

CORRECTS FIGURE IN PARAGRAPH THREE, MINOR EDITS

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - Hundreds of drug suspects in the Philippines have been killed since the police forces relaunched their anti-illegal drug operations two months ago.

Last March, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Ronald dela Rosa rebranded the country's anti-narcotics campaign -- which permits extrajudicial killings -- the "Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded”.

PNP data reveals that since March 1, a total of 271 suspects have been killed while 15,711 others were arrested, according to Tuesday's GMA news report.

Data also showed that 9,921 police operations have been conducted, the report said.

On Monday, some 45 UN member states expressed alarm over the alleged extrajudicial killings in the country.

"Everything is subjected to due process. We will investigate everything that needs to be investigated," said presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella on Tuesday.

President Rodrigo Duterte put a stop to PNP anti-narcotics operations last January after Korean national Jee Ick-joo was discovered to have been killed inside a police headquarters.

Several non-governmental organizations have expressed concern over the killings of suspects during anti-drug operations since Duterte assumed power in June 2016.

PNP data had earlier shown that over 8,000 people have been killed since the war on drugs across the Philippines was implemented at the start of Duterte administration.