More drug lords will be killed in the coming days, says PNP chief

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa assured the public Friday that more high-value drug suspects will be killed in the coming days following the death of suspected drug lord Mico Tan. 

He said this is in response to criticisms that authorities only target small drug pushers.

"Tama 'yung palagi tayong kini-criticize na kung mamamatay ba 'yung street pushers lang daw. Ngayon ito na, nakita ninyo, malaking drug lord—patay rin, 'di ba?" he said in a television interview.

"Huwag kayong magmadali at marami pa tayong mapapatay diyan na high-value target. Hintayin lang ninyo," he added.

Dela Rosa said Tan was a big drug personality and had been operating in the country for eight years.

"Very big, very big. He must be operating here in the Philippines around eight years already. He was responsible for that drug shabu laboratory in Metro Manila. Ngayon patuloy pa rin ang kanyang ginagawa," he said.

He said Tan was the first drug lord from mainland China but he was only second to Jaguar in terms of operations.

"Unang Chinese drug lord from mainland China pero pangalawa siya sa mga drug lords; si Jaguar ang una. Pero sa mga napatay siya ang pinakauna," he said.

He said they will be investigating the activities of Tan and why he has sacks of ingredients for illegal substance in his possession.

Tan was killed in an anti-drug operation in Valenzuela City on Friday.

Almost 200 drug suspects have been killed in the anti-illegal drug operations of PNP in the first three weeks of July, the national headquarters bared on Tuesday.

According to a summary report released by Camp Crame,  194 drug suspects were killed from July 1 to 19. —Amita Legaspi/KG, GMA News