1,805 deaths 'under investigation'

MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday placed the total number of drug suspects killed in police operations at 1,011.

The PNP said the death toll was recorded between July 1 and August 31, 2016, the first two months of the Duterte administration which has launched a brutal campaign against illegal drugs.

PNP's count of fatalities excludes the number of people killed by non-state forces.

The national police said there are there have been 1,805 killings by non-state forces under investigation. Charges for 281 of these deaths (16 percent) have been filed, leading to the arrest of suspects in 176 cases.

Police data also show that 14,798 persons have been arrested in legitimate operations while 685,740 others have surrendered to authorities.

Of those who promised to stop their illegal activities, 43,398 were drug peddlers while 637,342 were drug users.

Various media outlets have tallied a higher death toll amid government's war on drugs.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa has explained that the discrepancy is due to the media's inclusion of deaths under investigation and deaths reported immediately after President Duterte won the election but before he assumed office.

ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group's group own tally said there have been 1,327 drug-related killings from May 10 to September 2. Of the total number of fatalities, 806 were killed during police operations.

MAP, CHARTS: The Death Toll of the War on Drugs