MANILA - Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Thursday that as of August 31, the death toll in the war on illegal drugs waged by the government has risen to 929.
Since assuming office two months ago, President Rodrigo Duterte has launched a bloody campaign against illegal drugs which critics say has trampled on human rights and ignored due process.
The death toll excludes the number of people killed by non-state forces.
Dela Rosa said there have been 1,507 killings by non-state forces under investigation. Charges for 628 of these deaths have been filed.
READ: Death toll in Philippines' drug war hits 2,000
The police chief likewise told lawmakers that they filed corresponding criminal complaints against erring cops, such as those involved in deaths of a father and son inside a Pasay City Police station.
''We will be conducting investigation. Basta merong patay nag iimbestiga kami (As long as there are deaths, we will investigate). This is being processed by the Scene of the Crime Operatives and later on the PNP - Internal Affairs Service,'' he said.
At a hearing by the House Appropriations Committee, Kabayan Party List Rep. Harry Roque pointed out there appears to be a variance with the media's own death toll.
Dela Rosa explained that the discrepancy is due to the media's inclusion of deaths under investigation and deaths reported immediately after President Rodrigo Duterte won the election but before he assumed office.
ABS-CBN's Investigative and Research Group, meanwhile, said there have been 1,313 drug-related killings from May 10 to September 1. Of the total number of fatalities, 796 were killed during police operations.
MAP, CHARTS: The Death Toll of the War on Drugs