Philippine police says crackdown targeting more drug lords

Associated Press
EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Residents carry a body of an alleged drug dealer killed during a large scale anti-drug raid by the police at a slum community in Manila on July 20, 2017. One resident was killed in the raid according to police. President Rodrigo Duterte swept to an election victory last year largely on a pledge to wipe out his nation's illegal drugs trade within three to six months, saying he would do so by killing thousands of people. Duterte fulfilled his vow on the death toll, drawing condemnation from rights groups who warned he may be orchestrating a crime against humanity as police and unknown assassins filled slums with bullet-ridden corpses. (AFP)

MANILA: The Philippine national police chief warns that law enforcers will be running after more drug lords after clashes following a police search killed 15 people, including a city mayor who was among politicians President Rodrigo Duterte publicly linked to illegal drugs.
Director General Ronald dela Rosa said Monday police are building cases against more illegal drug operators nationwide and will enforce the law without fear or favor.
Officers went to serve warrants Sunday to Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog Sr. to search his houses for suspected unlicensed firearms when gunmen opened fire on the police, sparking clashes that killed the mayor and at least 14 other people, said Ozamiz police chief Jovie Espenido. Espenido described the mayor as a “high-value target on illegal drugs.”