EMONG'S JOURNALS

Take note, all ye youngsters (and oldsters, too!). The number of killings in the government's war against illegal drugs continue to increase and has reached around 2,000, two months into the Rodrigo Duterte administration, according to data released this week. The Philippine National Police recorded 929 casualties killed in police operations from July 1 to August 31, an increase of 141 people over a week, on average 20 people a day. There are also reported deaths who died under "mysterious circumstances" with some reports saying a few of them have been killed due to mistaken identity or due to their associations with drug men. Their deaths, most of the times, are referred to as "collateral damages." The statistics speaks for itself. In this instance, prevention is most certainly better than cure. Here's how not to become a victim of mistaken identity in a drug war: 1 Choose your friends wisely.  Not every one you meet are worthy of your fr...

No one expected the kill list to hit a thousand so darn fast! More than 1000 suspected drug users or dealers have been killed by police or vigilantes in the Philippines in less than three months, according to a news report from ABS CBN News. A separate tally from GMA News is fewer, and said that since 10 May – the day Rodrigo Duterte was announced the winner of the presidential poll – at least 601 people have been killed because they were suspected to have been involved with drugs. The deadliest day fell on August 11 where a total of 27 drug men were killed. The killings appear to have been carried out by police, who attribute the violence to suspects who “resisted arrest and shot at police officers”, and vigilante groups emboldened by Duterte’s promises of impunity. During the campaign, Duterte said 100,000 people would die in his crackdown, with so many dead bodies dumped in Manila Bay that fish there would grow fat from feeding on them. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS PO...

The next dude (or babe!) you'll be dancing with tonight might be a covert cop. The Philippine National Police (PNP) is now eyeing high-end bars in Taguig and Makati cities in an attempt to combat the proliferation of party drugs, according to a report from the Manila Bulletin . Police Senior Supt. Tomas Apolinario, head of the Southern Police District, explained: We are conducting patrol on big bars and club. We have already coordinated with bar and club (owners) and they are now giving special security passes for our personnel. They are there to observe and even use the comfort rooms because as we all know, it is in the comfort rooms where the party drugs are being passed." The focus on high-end bars and clubs, which are usually the favorite hangout spots of rich kids and celebrities, was brought about by the death of five concertgoers in a Pasay City concert due to party drugs, he added. Police operatives will also scour posh subdivisions in Makati, Taguig, Parañaq...

The word is clear, "We're out to get y'all!" At least four drug-related personalities are killed everyday, according to the latest data of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Just last week, from June 27 to July 3, a total of 31 drug suspects were killed nationwide. From May 10 up to July 3, a total of 103 were killed during police operations, with Central Luzon (Region 3), Calabarzon (Region 4-A), and MIMAROPA (Region 4-B) recording the highest number of fatalities. Police authorities had earlier said those who were killed in these operations resisted arrest and fought back. They, however, assured the public that the police is equally protective of the human rights of the suspects and is conducting an investigation for every casualty. Meanwhile, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) had already launched "Oplan Double Barrel" - a scheme to arrest big time drug lords and dismantling syndicates. Oplan Double Barrel will deploy ten t...

H ere's another case of a Filipina caught smuggling large amounts of suspected drugs in a foreign country. A 29 year old tourist, whose identity is temporarily withheld, came from Manila and was arrested by Hong Kong customs officers when they found 1.8 kilograms of cocaine in her suitcase. The seized illegal drug has a street value of HK$1.7 million (roughly PHP 9.7 million). Vice Consul Charles Macaspac said the Filipino woman had already been extended consular services. Heavy briefcase According to news website The Sun-HK , the Filipina tourist arrived from Manila on February 2. But upon baggage examination, Customs officers found an "abnormally heavy" briefcase inside her hand-carried suitcase. When inspected, the briefcase contained false compartments that yielded 1.8 kilos of suspected cocaine. She was charged with one count of trafficking of a dangerous drug, the report said. Last December, another Filipina identified as Monica Eden was arrested ...