MANILA – The Palace on Friday said there is a possibility that President Rodrigo Duterte has access to other data when he claimed that he loses two policemen a day to drug operations.

Duterte often mentions in his speeches that he loses an average of two policemen to anti-drug operations everyday as he defends the rising number of suspected drug criminals being killed in his war on drugs.

Duterte’s figure, however, is now being questioned after no less than the Philippine National Police (PNP) said that from July 1, when Duterte launched his "war on drugs," to October 12, 13 police officers were killed or an average of one every eight days, according to a Reuters report.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said it is possible that Duterte has access to other data in claiming that two cops die everyday in anti-drug operations.

“Tulad nga ng sabi ni General Bato (PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa) the last time, the President also has access to other data, so we can also find out regarding that,” Abella said in a news conference.

Nearly 2,300 people have been killed in police operations or by suspected vigilantes since Duterte took office on June 30, according to the Philippines police. That figure was revised down this month by the police from an original tally of 3,600 deaths.

ABS-CBN’s Investigate and Research Group, meanwhile, said there have been 2,210 drug-related deaths from May 10 to October 27.

Of this figure, 1,268 deaths were attributed to police operations and 782 to unidentified assailants. – with Reuters