Fact Check: "501 drug-related killings recorded in Marcos' first 18 months"
What We Know
The claim that there were "501 drug-related killings recorded in Marcos' first 18 months" is inaccurate. According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), only 195 killings were officially recorded during the first 18 months of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration, which began on June 30, 2022, and ended on December 30, 2023 (source-1). This figure represents a significant decrease compared to the previous administration of Rodrigo Duterte, which recorded 3,968 killings in a similar timeframe (source-1).
Additionally, reports from the Dahas Project indicate that as of October 15, 2023, there were 438 drug-related killings recorded since Marcos took office, with 195 of those attributed to state operations (source-1). This further emphasizes that the figure of 501 is not supported by the data available.
Analysis
The claim of 501 drug-related killings appears to be a misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the statistics surrounding drug-related violence in the Philippines under Marcos. The PDEA's report is a credible source, as it is an official agency responsible for drug enforcement in the country. The figure of 195 killings is corroborated by multiple reports from the Dahas Project, which is a reputable academic initiative that monitors drug-related violence in the Philippines (source-1).
Moreover, the context of the claim is crucial. The narrative surrounding the Marcos administration's approach to the drug war has been characterized as "bloodless," a stark contrast to the previous administration's violent tactics. The Marcos government has aimed to reduce killings and focus on rehabilitation and prevention, which is reflected in the lower number of killings reported (source-1).
The discrepancy between the claimed 501 killings and the actual figures can lead to confusion, particularly when considering the broader context of ongoing drug-related violence in the Philippines. While the overall number of killings may fluctuate, the specific claim regarding the first 18 months of Marcos' presidency is definitively inaccurate.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that there were 501 drug-related killings recorded in the first 18 months of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration is incorrect. The official figures from the PDEA indicate that only 195 killings were recorded during that period, significantly lower than the claim suggests. This discrepancy highlights the importance of relying on verified data from credible sources when discussing sensitive topics such as drug-related violence.
