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Nearly 6,000 Deaths Linked to ‘War on Drugs’ in Philippines Since July Amid Crackdown on Dealers, Users

Tracy Bloom

Activists carrying torchs and streamers stand next to manniquins depicting victims of extrajudicial killings in the government's war on drugs during a protest in observance of Human Rights Day, in Manila on December 10, 2016. President Duterte won presidential elections in May after pledging to kill tens of thousands of drug suspects, warning that otherwise the Philippines would turn into a narco-state. Since assuming office, he has called on police and even civilians to kill drug addicts. (Credit: TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)

There have been 5,927 deaths linked to the “war on drugs” in the Philippines since July 1 according to statistics released by the national police on Monday.

Activists carrying torchs and streamers stand next to manniquins depicting victims of extrajudicial killings in the government’s war on drugs during a protest in observance of Human Rights Day, in Manila on December 10, 2016. President Duterte won presidential elections in May after pledging to kill tens of thousands of drug suspects, warning that otherwise the Philippines would turn into a narco-state. Since assuming office, he has called on police and even civilians to kill drug addicts. (Credit: TED ALJIBE/AFP/Getty Images)

President Rodrigo Duterte was elected to office in May on a platform of cracking down on crime, particularly illegal drugs.

Since taking office in early June, his police force has waged a bloody war on drug dealers and users, resulting in the deaths of thousands of suspects at the hands of police and vigilantes.

The figures released by the Philippine National Police Monday span the period from July 1 to December 12.

Of the total, 2,086 were killed in police operations and 3,841 in extrajudicial or vigilante-style killings. More than 40,000 suspects have been arrested.

Washington has been critical of the handling of drug dealers, including extrajudical killings — government executions without the benefit of judicial proceedings.

But on December 3, President-elect Donald Trump told the Philippine President that he is going about his controversial fight against drugs “the right way,” according to Duterte.

The national police force also announced Monday that since July, more than five million houses have been visited as part of an anti-drug campaign where officers knock on the doors of alleged drug users or pushers.