The streets of Metro Manila are now as safe as those in Davao City – or so says the head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Senior Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro said the blood drug war of President Rodrigo Duterte proved “effective,” as shown by the significant drop in the incidence of theft and other index crimes.

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Without elaborating on current crime statistics to back up his claim, Ferro said the improvement in peace and order in the National Capital Region could be felt by the public, as in the President’s hometown.

Speaking to reporters in Camp Crame on Friday, Ferro said: “Ikaw, mag-lakad ka dito sa Metro Manila. Dati nakakatakot mag-lakad sa gabi, di ba? Try to walk in the evening or early in the morning. Nakakatakot pa bang mag-lakad dito? Parang nasa Davao lang tayo dito eh.”

(“Walk around Metro Manila. It used to be scary walking around at night, right? Try to walk in the evening or early in the morning. Is it still scary to walk around here? It’s just like we’re in Davao.”)

Ferro also downplayed the rising number of drug-related deaths, saying it was a “very small” percentage of the total number of arrests in the ongoing drug war.

“I also want to emphasize na yung 32,000 arrests, as compared doon sa alleged EJKs (extrajudicial killings), na regular police operations naman, ay napakaliit na percent lang, kung pagbabasehan natin,” he said.

(“I also want to emphasize that the 32,000 arrests, as compared with the alleged EJK’s, which were really regular police operations, make up a very small percentage, if we make them a basis.”)

PNP records show that the number of deaths related to illegal drug cases almost has reached 6,000 since the intensive campaign started in July. –ATM

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