(Eagle News) — The Palace on Wednesday welcomed what a narcotics official said was the United States’ support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
“These efforts are anchored on respect for human rights, cognizant of our obligation to protect our people’s right to life and to live in peace and security,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement after James Walsh, deputy assistant state secretary in the international narcotics and law enforcement bureau, said the US was “consciously optimistic” about the drug war in the country.
Walsh made the statement a day after the Philippine National Police resumed Oplan Tokhang operations using new guidelines.
Roque also reiterated that “extrajudicial killings never had – and will never have – a place in the anti-illegal drug campaign.”
“We are confident that the re-launch of the Philippine National Police Operation Tokhang would have similar results. This early, there have been hundreds of surrenderees and no casualty on its first day,” Roque said.
He also noted the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s “significant strides.”
“(They) have been noteworthy with dens and clandestine laboratories dismantled and drugs seized with fewer drug-related deaths,” Roque said.