Mayor, wife, 8 others killed as drug war in the Philippines continues

Reynaldo Parojinog, mayor of Ozamiz city in the Philippines, is the latest to be killed in the continued drug war launched by President Rodrigo Duterte against drug dealers in the country.

The mayor, who was among a list of officials publicly shamed last year by Duterte of being linked to drugs, was killed alongside his wife and 10 others during a series of pre-dawn anti-drug raids.

Recounting the incident, police say officers were sent to serve warrants for the arrest of Parojinog, his daughter, and four other officials of Ozamiz city when they allegedly opened fire on Sunday.

Read also: DRUG WAR: Duterte calls bluff of ICC, says Int’l court can’t stop him

The officers were “met with volleys of fire from [the mayor’s] security, prompting the Philippine National Police personnel to retaliate,” Chief Superintendent Timoteo Pacleb said in a statement.

Months ago, Duterte vowed to kill more in his continued anti-drug fight; he even revealed at the time that he will ask the military to help in the war against drugs dealers in the country.

During one of his speeches, Duterte said the country’s drug problem had become a national security threat, saying he did not intend to declare martial law, but added that his controversial war against illegal drugs will continue.

 

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