Philippine mayor shot dead by police over drug-related crimes

Philippine authorities announced that Reynaldo Parojinog, Mayor of Ozamiz City, the country, who was accused of being involved in drug trafficking, was shot dead during a police raid on July 30.

Police arrest a suspect involved in illegal drug trafficking in Pasig City, east of Manila on February 13. (Source: EPA/VNA)

This is the latest official to be killed since President Rodrigo Duterte launched his war on drugs.

Mr. Parojinog was shot dead along with 11 others during a raid at his home.

"When police were executing a search warrant, Mayor Parojinong's bodyguards opened fire at them and police had to retaliate," regional police spokesman Officer Lemuel Gonda told reporters.

Police seized ammunition, weapons as well as illegal drugs during the raid, according to city police chief Jaysen De Guzman.

Police previously said they had been monitoring Mr. Parajinog after President Duterte, in a speech last year, said Mr. Parojinog was among mayors involved in illegal drug deals.

Two other mayors mentioned by Mr. Duterte in this drug list were also killed last year.

Cracking down on crime, especially drug crimes, is one of the top priorities declared by President Duterte during his campaign and has been actively implemented since taking office in the middle of last year.

According to statistics, police have killed about 9,000 people in the anti-drug campaign since President Duterte took office in June 2016.

Recently, President Duterte has ordered the military to participate in this operation and said he wants to give the military the power to arrest police officers involved in drugs./.

According to Vietnamplus