MANILA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 50 policemen have died and 144 wounded since the Duterte administration launched its war on drugs in 2016, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde said on Monday.
Albayalde said in a statement that the latest fatality is Police Senior Master Sergeant Conrado Cabigao, 37, who was killed last Saturday during a "buy-bust operation" in Rodriguez town in Rizal province, just outside Metro Manila.
"Cabigao is the 50th police officer who offered the supreme sacrifice in the PNP's lonely crusade against illegal drugs since 2016," Albayalde said in a press conference at the PNP headquarters.
"Many more police anti-drug crusaders among the 144 wounded PNP personnel who survived armed confrontation in similar violent anti-drug operations are living witnesses to the ruthless violence of drug syndicate gang-men who have taken a life of crime and who will not give up without a fight," he said.
Albayalde said the 50 policemen were killed during the 153,276 anti-drug operations launched by the police. The operations resulted in the arrest of 240,565 drug suspects, he added.
Albayalde said the Duterte government is "definitely" winning its three-year war against illegal drugs. "(They always ask if) we are winning the war against illegal drugs. Definitely, we are," he told reporters.
However, he said there is still much to be done to make the Philippines drug free before Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ends his six-year term in 2022.
"We cannot quantify the problem on illegal drugs. But what I am sure is (this is not yet done)," he said, adding the PNP will double its efforts if necessary. "If we have to double-time, (and we will double time)."
Since taking office on June 30, 2016, Duterte has carried out a war on drugs.
Duterte vowed to eradicate illegal drugs before his term ends in 2022.
