'Sigurado ako may sinalvage...and we will investigate'

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday acknowledged that some of those who have died in his war on drugs were killed via extra-legal means, and he vowed to order an investigation into such killings.

Duterte, who has launched a bloody war on drugs since assuming the presidency over a month ago, acknowledged that some suspected drug pushers were indeed ''salvaged,'' a term which means summary killing in Filipino parlance.

''Sigurado ako may sinalvage, sigurado rin ako dyan. And we will investigate,'' Duterte said during an environment summit in Mindanao.

('I'm sure some were salvaged, I'm sure of that. And we will investigate.)

Data gathered by the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group show that there have been 834 drug-related fatalities from May 10 to August 4.

Of the total number, 512 were killed during police operations, and 246 were killed by unidentified gunmen. At least 76 were victims of summary executions.

These numbers are reflected in the daily news reports of bodies being found in various areas and people being killed by unknown assassins.

SLIDESHOW: Tok, tok...bang, bang: The bloody war on drugs

But Duterte said he is certain that drug suspects who were killed during legitimate police operations fired back at cops.

''Pero 'yung ganon, may baril talaga iyan. At maniwala ka sa mga pulis na iyan,'' he said.

(Some really carried guns. Believe the police.)

''Lumalaban talaga, kaya lang siyempre ang pulis ang kalaban niyan bangag… cannot shoot straight."

(They really fight back, and the policemen know they're up against people high on drugs… who cannot shoot straight.)

'I DON'T CARE'

With the number of slain suspected drug peddlers rising by the day and questions being raised on the manner anti-drug raids are being carried out, human rights advocates are now taking Duterte to task.

There have also been concerns that poor people have become the main victims of Duterte's war on drugs, with many slain suspected drug peddlers not being given their day in court.

Duterte, however, is defiant, saying impoverished drug ushers are most likely to be drug peddlers themselves.

''I do not care. I really don’t care because I know na kapag iyang bangag na -- a user is always a pusher except if you are the son of an Ayala or Gokongwei,'' Duterte said.

(''I do not care. I really don’t care because once a person is high on drugs -– a user is always a pusher, except if you are the son of an Ayala or Gokongwei)

''Kung ordinary, taga-Tondo, once you get hooked on drugs, you must find another one to [get] hooked with you para siya ang magbigay ng suporta."

(Ordinary people like those living in Tondo, once they get hooked on drugs, they must find someone else to get hooked with them who will also support their addiction.)

Duterte said addicts who have been using illegal drugs for a long period are already beyond redemption since rehabilitation "is no longer viable" for them.

He said with the number of self-confessed addicts turning themselves in to authorities, the government is now finding it hard to address their need for rehabilitation.

Duterte, who ruled Davao City for two decades with an iron fist, has been alarming human rights advocates because of his nonchalant attitude towards the rising death toll in his war on drugs.

The president earlier he would gladly back policemen who would face charges in the performance of their duty, raising fears that unscrupulous cops will be emboldened to do illegal activities in the guise of legitimate law enforcement.

In his first address to the nation, Duterte scored human rights advocates for insisting that he respect the rights of suspected drug peddlers, saying '''human rights must not be used as an excuse to destroy the country."