Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte. Photo by Simeon Celi, Presidential photo/File

DAVAO CITY (UPDATED) — Seven alleged drug personalities were killed in separate drug bust operations in Davao City over the weekend after Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte declared a "war" on illegal drugs on Friday.

During the turnover of command ceremony of the new Davao City police director on Friday, Duterte said in a speech that drug pushers would be killed if they would not leave the city.

"Usbon nako diri, kung dili mo mohawa, dili mo moundang, patyon tamo. Dili ka-afford nga madaot ang family, mga community tungod lang ana for your selfish venture. Gusto lang ka modato kay mamaligya ka og droga, unya imong dauton ang laing tao because of your greediness, patyon taka," he said in a media interview after the event.

(I repeat, if you don't leave [the city], if you don't stop [in drug peddling], I will kill you. I can't afford that the family, the communities would be destroyed just because of your selfish venture. You just want to get rich by selling drugs, then you harm other people because of your greediness, then I will kill you.)

READ: `More Filipinos now in favor of ICC probe of Duterte drug war: SWS poll

Duterte said the more aggressive campaign against illegal drugs came after barangay officials from densely-populated communities said that illegal drugs remains a problem.

Rights monitor Human Rights Watch said Mayor Duterte's declaration of a drug war in Davao City raises "deep concern" at how it would "only worsen the already dire human rights situation in the city."

It added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should step in, rescind the previous administration's anti-drug policies and order the police to stand down.

"[Marcos] risks embarrassing himself before the international community, which has been willing to cut him some slack on human rights if he allows Mayor Duterte not just to continue but intensify this brutal policy," HRW also said.  

NATIONAL WAR ON DRUGS

Mayor Duterte's father Rodrigo Duterte, while president, launched a bloody war on drugs that saw thousands killed in what authorities claimed were legitimate police encounters.

The Department of Justice review of drug operations that led to deaths found irregularities in some of the raids and busts, prompting the filing of cases against law enforcement personnel.

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Dahas PH, a monitoring project of the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Department of Conflict and Development Studies of Ghent University, has been monitoring drug-related killings under the Marcos administration.

It said in January that 131 of 331 drug-related killings in 2023 were described as “drug pushers” in police reports.

The count includes 21 state agents killed in drug-related operations or in relation to their anti-narcotics work, including seven police officers.

BLOODY DRUG BUST OPS 

Hours after the mayor's pronouncement, police authorities conducted drug bust operations that resulted in deaths.

In Buhangin district, Sherwin Familiar "Win" Martin —  the alleged Number One drug personality in the city — was reportedly killed in an armed confrontation in a drug bust at Ponte Verde Subdivision early Saturday morning.

Authorities seized and recovered 110 grams of suspected shabu worth P748,000 and 50 grams of alleged marijuana worth P6,000. Police also confiscated a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Another alleged drug pusher named "Larry" was killed in a drug bust along Shrine Hills Road in Barangay Matina Crossing on Saturday evening.

Police also said they have confiscated sachets of suspected shabu worth P43,860 and a .38 revolver.

Also on Saturday evening, Jehurry "Ngay" Dresser was shot by police for allegedly resisting arrest in a drug bust in Barangay 75-A in Matina Aplaya.

In Barangay Mintal, "Timoy", tagged as Top 5 city-level drug personality, was also shot dead on early Sunday morning.

"Instead of submitting himself, the suspect suddenly drew his .38 revolver...and, without hesitation, deliberately shot at the police officer. Fortunately, the latter was able to parry the hand of Alias TIMOY, resulting in a missed shot," the police report said.

Police said the suspect aimed his gun at the police officer again, prompting the latter to shoot him twice.

The last alleged drug personality killed over the weekend was Emmanuel Jala Avila in Barangay Leon Garcia in Agdao on Sunday afternoon.

Police said the drug bust operation resulted in an armed confrontation with Avila after he allegedly resisted arrest.

DAVAO POLICE: DRUG SUSPECTS SHOULD SURRENDER PEACEFULLY

The Davao City Police insisted that the drug personalities who died resisted arrest. Pieces of evidence such as illegal drugs and firearms were also recovered in the crime scene.

Police Capt. Hazel Tuazon, Davao City police spokesperson, said other suspects surrendered and were not killed.

"Ang DCPO ay laging nagpapaalala sa mga taong involved sa operasyon ng ilegal na droga na huminto na at kung aarestuhin man, dapat kusang sumurender at di manlaban kasi handang mag protekta ang ating mga kapulisan sa kanilang sarili para ma protektahan din ang maraming Dabawenyo na ang hangad ay ligtas na pamayanan para sa kanilang pamilya," Tuazon told ABS-CBN News.

(The DCPO always reminds people involved in illegal drugs to stop and, if they are being arrested, to surrender and not fight back. Our police are prepared to protect  themselves so they can protect Dabawenyos who want a safe community for their families.)

She said that the DCPO has long been implementing its campaign against illegal drugs as the police authorities aim to ensure peaceful communities free from illegal drugs.