"I have ordered [PNP chief] Bato [dela Rosa] to recruit young men in the PNP who are imbued with fervor of patriotism to be the members only of the task forces. … I have to do it because I lack men," Duterte said, as quoted by the ABS-CBN broadcaster.
Duterte added that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), which was leading the operation since January, when police operations had been halted, will continue to head and supervise the anti-drug war.
According to reports, more than 8,000 people have been killed during the anti-drug war launched after Duterte took office on June 30, with only about 2,500 dying during police operations. Roughly half of the killings are under investigation amid human rights groups’ concerns of being extrajudicial.
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