As a new phase of a violent narcotics clampdown set its sights on high profile individuals, a mayor was killed along with nine of his body guards in a shootout on Friday (Local time). The mayor was on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s wanted list for suspected drugs links.
The 10 men opened fire on officers who attempted to halt their two vehicles at a checkpoint in Mindanao before dawn. The men died of their wounds on the way to the hospital, police said.
Bernard Tayong of the North Cotabato police office said that the police operation was legitimate. No officers were hurt but a police vehicle was riddled with bullets, he added.
Tayong told reporters that they have information that the mayor and his men were carrying drugs. They tried to intercept them but the mayor and his men chose to shoot it out.
The incident happened far from Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom’s generally Muslim town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan.
It came as police modify tactics in the controversial war on drugs. Their sights are now trained at government officials, politicians, high-ranking army and police officials. Moreover, there are celebrities suspected of involvement in the trade.
Dubbed “Project Double Barrel Alpha”, the new plan seeks to reduce the bloodshed and increase arrests in a campaign that has claimed more than 2,300 lives since Duterte took office on June 30.
In a news conference late on Thursday following his return from a visit to Japan, Duterte waved a thick book he claimed had names of officials suspected of drug links. The book contains about 3,000 names.
More than 1,600 of those killed in the anti-drugs campaign died during police operations. It is a death toll that has gained international concern about extrajudicial killings.
Duterte has repeatedly torn into his critics as he aggressively defended the campaign.
In a recent poll, 94 percent of respondents said it was important that police take suspects alive. This shows the public’s unease over the crackdown.
After Friday’s shootout, seven guns, which include an Armalite rifle, and 13 small packs of suspected methamphetamines were retrieved from the mayor’s car, police investigators said
Dimaukom’s wife, who is also the town’s vice mayor, is also on Duterte’s watch list.
Shifting targets
National police spokesman Dionardo Carlos said on Thursday that the war on drugs had been magnified to go beyond poorer areas where low-level peddlers operate.
New targets were transport networks, wealthier neighborhoods, show business circles and nightclubs. The authorities aim to get rid of drugs like ecstasy and cocaine in these places.
Carlos denied there was an intentional endorsing of extrajudicial killings. He said casualties occurred when suspects refused to surrender. Police were keen to avoid violence, which is the reason why they are shifting to Alpha, he added.
Since late June, about 30,000 suspects were arrested and 750,000 drug users had surrendered. Of the “high value” targets, 201 had given up, 66 were arrested and 14 were killed.
He said 150,000 police had been tested for drug use. 164 of which returned positive results and would be dismissed.
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