Filipino mayor among 10 dead in clash with anti-drug police
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philippine police say Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of southern Datu Saudi Ampatuan township and nine others were killed before dawn in a gunbattle with anti-narcotics officers in one of the deadliest operations since President Rodrigo Duterte launched a crackdown on illegal drugs.
KORONADAL, Philippines >> A Philippine town mayor who was publicly identified by President Rodrigo Duterte as a drug trafficking suspect was gunned down Friday with nine of his men at a police checkpoint, in one of the bloodiest operations since the crackdown was launched.
Little over a month after he took office on a promise to rid the Philippines of illegal drugs, Duterte in August read out the names of more than 150 officials allegedly linked to illegal drugs, among them Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan township in southern Maguindanao province.
The mayor had turned himself in to police and denied he was involved in the illegal drug trade. He had told the media that he was fighting illegal drugs himself and supported Duterte’s crackdown.
At dawn Friday, Dimaukom and the nine others were killed they opened fire from three cars on officers at a checkpoint in Makilala town in North Cotabato province, Superintendent Bernard Tayong said.
“It was a legitimate anti-drug operation but the subjects opened fire on our troops,” regional police official Superintendent Romeo Galgo Jr. told reporters.
Police said they had received information that Dimaukom’s group was planning to transport a “huge” amount of methamphetamine — a prohibited and extremely addictive stimulant drug locally known as shabu — from Davao city, Duterte’s hometown, to Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.
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Police estimate more than 3,600 suspected drug dealers and addicts have been killed since Duterte took office on June 30. The crackdown has drawn international concern over extrajudicial killings, but Duterte has repeatedly dismissed criticism and vowed to keep his election promise to rid the country of drugs.
Arriving from a state visit to Japan late Thursday, Duterte appeared to issue another warning, saying that thousands of drug suspects may end up dead. He expressed disgust over criticism leveled against him while he battles a drug menace that he said has left many of police officers dead.
“And to say that I should behave and keep on harping on that … I’ll tell you I will triple it,” Duterte said. “If my wishes aren’t followed …you can expect about 20,000 or 30,000 more.”
“There is a war going on, I am losing two, three policemen a day. It’s a war, how could it be a … genocide, killing a helpless person there, kneeling,” he said. “There’s none of that, we do not gather children and young men and shoot them.”
28 responses to “Filipino mayor among 10 dead in clash with anti-drug police”
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Holy cow Batman. Shabu Shabu not only a Japanese name for food of sorts
scary country
Wolf in lambs clothing got caught in a crossfire!
President in bully’s clothing plays at being tough guy.
No, it’s Bully in President’s clothing.
Sounds more like barack hussein obama. He, too, is good at punishing his political enemies with impunity.
Ukininam!!!!!! Dis preshiiidant ish puck’n amuck!!!
Shoot first, ask questions later.
No trial, appeals or imprisonment necessary.
For whom, exactly? Can you look at this case as presented and know for certain who the criminals in this case are?
Sorry. Not you, him↑.
Time to cross the Philippines off the list of vacation destinations.
Gone. Probably some good deals available.
It was crossed off my list as of August.
Hos did it end up on your list in the first place!!!
Duterte needs to be charged with Crimes Against Humanity before the ICC.
I guess we’ll never know for sure who fired first. All the other witnesses are dead.
Any drugs found? You’d think that would be the first thing paraded in front of the cameras– the drugs that were supposed to be in that car. But I don’t see any drugs in those photos.
Looks like the townspeople are keeping a close eye on the cops at that crime scene. Maybe, to make sure nothing is planted?
They are not looking for drugs, they looking for drug dealers.
The article says the people killed were going to transport a large amount of shabu from one area to another. Where’s the shabu in the vehicle? Did they even have any?
Swift justice?…..how will flee to Hawaii and beyond?
Duterte and his forces are going all out to kill SUSPECTED drug dealers. We are fortunate to live in America where the rule of law and the presumption of innocence prevails, and where proof beyond a reasonable doubt is required. Yes, the system can be abused and it’s not perfect, but oh I’m so glad to be here than in the Philippines.
Now that is what you call the war on drugs. Not like what we have here in the US. We call it the war on drugs but don’t really do anything to stop it because there is too much money to be made so they let it continue.
If I feel that you’re guilty, you’re guilty. Typical communist Chinese type of justice. No wonder the dude want to be closer to China than the U.S.
He’s the only leader not afraid of being PC, in his promise to rid the Philippines of drug dealers and users.
Good for him… Good for the Philippines !!!
not good. he’s no doubt killing innocent people. not good 1959.
“At dawn Friday, Dimaukom and the nine others were killed they opened fire from three cars on officers at a checkpoint”
Sounds like the deceased started it, if this account is correct.