MALACAÑANG WELCOMED on Wednesday, Jan. 31, a US official’s expression of support by the Trump administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s revived anti-illegal drug campaign.

“Our colleagues in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and China and Japan, have fully supported our efforts to contain the manufacture and proliferation of illegal drugs. These efforts are anchored on respect for human rights, cognizant of our obligation to protect our people’s right to life and to live in peace and security,” Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press statement.

Mr. Roque also stressed that the government does not endorse the alleged extrajudicial killings. “And we wish to reiterate that extrajudicial killings never had — and will never have — a place in the anti-illegal drug campaign.”

Last Tuesday, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement James Walsh said that President Donald J. Trump’s administration supports Mr. Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

“We are aware that the police are continuing the resumption of their operations. Many folks have been tracking the EJKs (extrajudicial killings) in the Philippines and the trends are going down,” Mr. Walsh said, adding: “I would describe the United States as being cautiously optimistic in the trends when it comes to a good, appropriate way for a drug campaign.”

In response to Mr. Walsh’s remarks, Mr. Roque said it is a sign of “a growing appreciation of the positive impact of the administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign.”

Mr. Roque added that “the significant strides of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the conduct of anti-drug operations have been noteworthy with dens and clandestine laboratories dismantled and drugs seized with fewer drug-related deaths.”

“We are confident that the relaunch of the Philippine National Police Operation Tokhang would have similar results. This early, there have been hundreds of surrenderees and no casualty on its first day.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

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