Top Philippines cops step down over alleged links to drug trade

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday accepted the resignation of 18 top officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) over their alleged involvement in illegal drugs.

During his second State of the Nation Address on Monday, Marcos told lawmakers: “Unscrupulous law enforcers and others involved in the highly nefarious drug trade have been exposed. I will be accepting their resignations.”

"We will relentlessly continue our fight against drug syndicates, shutting down their illegal activities. We will shut down their activities and dismantle their network of operations," he added, according to a statement published by Presidential Communications Office.

Manila launched the infamous war on drugs under former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016.

Later in 2018, Duterte announced that his country would withdraw from the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, effective March 2019.

In September 2021, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opened a probe into alleged crimes against humanity committed between Nov. 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019, during the war on drugs.

It halted the probe on Nov. 18, 2021, after Manila raised objections. The ICC, however, has rejected objections by Manila.