MANILA, Philippines – It was them all along, as the police would like to believe.
Police chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the Philippine National Police possesses “scientific” evidence that the rise in number of extrajudicial killings is caused by various syndicate drug groups.
Dela Rosa said on Tuesday that the public would be “surprised” with the way members of syndicates are killing each other.
READ: Dela Rosa: Buy body cameras? We can’t even afford guns and bullets
“‘Yung itong alleged vigilante killing it turned out pala ito ay syndicated killing ‘yung mga grupo sa droga,” the PNP chief explained before his meeting with the regional directors on Tuesday at Camp Crame.
“Magugulat na lang kayo ‘pag naglabas kami ng mga data kung sinu-sino ang nagpapatayan. Ilalabas namin ‘yan kasi mayroon tayong scientific evidence leading to that conclusion,” he added.
Dela Rosa, however, could not confirm the the claim of former PNP chief Sen. Panfilo Lacson who cited 681 cases of extrajudicial killings or 20 killings per day since July 1. The killings were allegedly committed by vigilantes.
Lacson challenged the current leadership of PNP to solve the killings.
READ: Bato to Ping: Thanks, but we won’t lose cool at Senate probe
The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte and the PNP are being urged to stop the spate of killings since launching the campaign against illegal drugs.
Various groups including international agencies are alarmed with the rising number of extra judicial killings in the Philippines.
Vice President Leni Robredo earlier condemned the killings, which she described as “senseless and unjust violence.”
Dela Rosa is set to discuss the rampant killings at a Senate hearing on August 22 and 23.
