CITATIONS
14 October 2023
Navotas Killing Zone: 3rd Young Man Killed in 2 Months in Same Area
Jairo Bolledo, Rappler
“As of October 7, there had been 432 drug-related killings both by law enforcers and unidentified suspects under the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to data from Dahas, a research initiative by the University of the Philippines (UP) Third World Studies Center.” Read full report.
14 October 2023
Unearthing the Truth
Jaileen F. Jimeno, Asia Democracy Chronicles
“According to the 2023 Human Rights Watch (HRW) Report, “the unlawful use of force by the police and government agents (has) continued” under the Marcos Jr. government. The report cited data from Dahas, a research program run by the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines.
Dahas reports that as of June 30, 2023, a year into Marcos Jr.’s term, a total of 342 have been killed by state actors in connection with illegal drugs. This is higher than the 302 reported in the last year of the Duterte administration.” Read full report.
9 October 2023
Filipinos use 20,000 kilos of illegal drugs each year
Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Business World
“Police killed at least 342 suspects in drug raids in the first year of the Marcos government, according to the Dahas project under the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center.” Read full report.
8 August 2023
‘We can’t be bribed:’ Families of drug war victims reveal offers to drop cases amid ICC probe
Aie Balagtas See,PCIJ
“As of May 31, 309 have been killed in connection with illegal drugs, according to the Dahas Project of the UP Third World Studies Center, which is keeping tabs on the drug war on Marcos’ watch.” Read full report
16 July 2023
Duterte out, Marcos in: What has happened to the country’s campaign against illegal drugs?
Mariel Celine Serquiña, CNN Philippines
“In a June report, the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center logged at least 300 drug-related killings since Marcos became the president.” Read full report
10 July 2023
Hundreds killed in drug war during Marcos’ 1st year
Jodesz Gavilan, Rappler
“Violence continues well into the new administration as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. closes his first year in office with more than 300 deaths allegedly related to the continuing war on drugs. At least 342 drug-related killings were recorded from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, according to the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center.” Read full report
30 June 2023
A year into presidency, Marcos quietly keeps Duterte’s drug war going — rights groups
Cristina Chi, Philstar
“At least 336 drug-related killings have taken place since Marcos became president, most during law enforcement’s anti-drug operations, according to the UP Third World Studies Center, which maintains a running count of drug-related killings based on media reports.” Read full report
29 June 2023
A year of Marcos Jr: how a dictator’s son has changed the Philippines
Rebecca Ratcliffe, The Guardian
“Marcos has avoided overtly condemning the human rights record of the previous administration, though he has said the so-called war on drugs should be more focused on prevention, and that told police to go after bigger players – not ‘the kid who makes 100 pesos ($2) a week selling weed’.
However, the killings, say researchers, are continuing under his government: more than 300 drug-related killings have been recorded since he took office.” Read full report
27 June 2023
MORE HUMANE | Hontiveros backs UN experts on call to end violent global war on drugs
Beatrice Puente, News5
“Dahas, an initiative of the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines, has counted 336 drug-related killings under Marcos so far. Duterte’s brutal war on drugs led to the death of around 30,000 people, including those killed by vigilantes.” Read full report
11 June 2023
A mother thinks the worst is over after Duterte. Then her son is killed under Marcos.
Jodesz Gavilan, Rappler
“By the end of August 2022, the month Rolly was killed, there were already at least 74 victims of drug-related killings, including those killed by state agents and unidentified individuals, according to monitoring by Dahas, a project of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center. ” Read full report
23 May 2023
‘War on drugs’ victims’ kin ‘unanimously’ support ICC investigation
Kaycee Valmonte with Kristine Joy Patag, Philstar
“The UP Third World Studies Center’s latest report showed there have been 294 total reported drug-related killings under Marcos Jr., with 11 recorded just last May 8 to 15. ” Read full report
23 May 2023
Victims, kin ‘strongly urge’ ICC to allow resumption of drug war probe
Jodesz Gavilan, Rappler
“Dahas, a project of the University of the Philippines-Diliman Third World Studies Center, monitored at least 294 reported drug-related killings under the Marcos administration, as of May 17, 2023. At least 106 were killed during legitimate government operations between June 30, 2022, to May 7, 2023.” Read full report
14 May 2023
Not losing hope: Mother of drug war victim finds courage in helping other grieving families
Jodesz Gavilan, Rappler
“For most part, Marcos seems to be deviating from Duterte’s approach, wanting to focus more on prevention. He even said during his US trip that Duterte’s war on drugs resulted in ‘abuses by certain elements in the government.’
But killings still continue. Dahas, a project of the University of the Philippines-Diliman Third World Studies Center, monitored at least 281 reported drug-related killings under the Marcos administration, as of May 7, 2023. Out of this number, 106 were killed during legitimate government operations.” Read full report
24 April 2023
Marcos to new PNP chief: Be open to scrutiny, exercise maximum tolerance
Jairo Bolledo, Rappler
“Despite Marcos’ ‘slightly different’ war on drugs, the drug-related killings have continued in the country. Dahas, a project of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center, has documented at least 263 reported drug-related killings from July 2022 to April 22, 2023.” Read full report
30 March 2023
Explainer: Can ICC’s Philippines drugs war probe make progress if Manila cuts contact?
Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales
“Police data showed 46 people have been killed during anti-drug operations between June 30, 2022, when Marcos took office, to November, way below the estimate of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center, whose research programme tallied 127 people killed in ‘drug war’ incidents from July 1 to November 7.” Read full report
27 March 2023
Amnesty International Report 2022/23: The state of the world’s human rights
Amnesty International
“According to the university-based research group Dahas, 324 drug-related killings by the police and other unknown assailants were recorded during 2022, 175 of which took place after July.” Read full report
23 March 2023
NCCP tells UN about continuing rights violations in the PH
National Council of Churches in the Philippines
“Speaking at the general debates of the ongoing 52nd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, NCCP program secretary for Faith, Witness and Service Mervin Sol Toquero reported before the international body that there had been 223 drug-related killings since July 2022, the start of the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration. ” Read full report
18 March 2023
EU, Marcos face own crossroads in trade perks renewal as PH impunity persists
Jodesz Gavilan, Rappler
“Dahas, a project by the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center, documented at least 223 reported drug-related killings from July 2022 to March 7, 2023 based on news reports. ” Read full report
8 March 2023
Cycle of violence recalls dark Duterte legacy
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
“Added to this number is the average of five killed in drug operations per week in the first two months of 2023 based on data provided by Dahas last March 3. Dahas, a project of the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines, has kept a running count of drug war casualties since Duterte launched his “war on drugs.” Read full report
22 February 2023
Hontiveros to EU MPs: Drug-related killings have not stopped, ICC investigation will not harm domestic efforts
Senate of the Philippines
“According to the UP Third World Studies Center, the 152 drug-related killings under the Marcos, Jr. administration exceeded the 149 recorded killings during the final six months of former President Duterte’s administration. Of the 152 killed since the start of the new admin, 46.7% were committed by state operatives.” Read full report
12 February 2023
International Criminal Court to Pursue Action Against Philippines’ Deadly Drug War
Michelle Bozzi, The Organization for World Peace
“’The war on drugs will continue so long as people are making money from it,’ Joel Ariate Jr., a researcher at the University of the Philippines, told Foreign Policy, expressing cynicism for the ICC’s intervention. ‘What chance is there that this process can lead to justice?'” Read full report
10 February 2023
Rody: Drug war fizzling out
Lade Jean Kabagani, Daily Tribune
“On the other hand, Dahas, a monitoring project affiliated with the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center, claimed there were 175 drug-related killings and not 61 during the said period.” Read full report
3 February 2023
PNP touts drug war wins, including killings
Dexter Cabalza, Philippine Daily Inquirer
“A study by the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines and the Development Studies of Ghent University in Belgium, however, presents a higher death toll. In the study called ‘Dahas,’ which includes a running count of drug-related killings based on media reports, 19 persons were killed from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, adding to the 324 it tallied last year.” Read full report
1 February 2023
Manila’s countless dead
Margaret Simons, The Monthly
“The Dahas figures tell a different story. They include any deaths where drugs were reported be part of the context as well as those carried out by unknown perpetrators. As one of the project’s publication states: ‘The war sprawls over a whole criminal complex beyond state authorities, and includes various criminal elements with varying intent to harm their victims. Failing to account for these casualties … offers a limited view of how the drug war accumulates its fatalities.'” Read full report
28 January 2023
‘Not welcome,’ Manila says as ICC resumes probe into Philippines’ ‘war on drugs’
Riyaz ul Khaliq, Anadolu Agency
“But data from Dahas, a monitoring project run by the University of the Philippines, revealed: ‘There were 175 drug-related killings in the country during Marcos’ first few months as President, or between 12 noon of June 30 and December 31, 2022.'” Read full report
27 January 2023
ICC to resume investigation into Philippines’s deadly drug war
Al Jazeera
“Dahas, which keeps track of reported drug-related killings, said earlier this month that 324 people had died in the drug war in 2022, including 175 in the first six months that Marcos Jr was in power.” Read full report
26 January 2023
Hundreds of Philippine police are filing their resignations. Why?
Mark Saludes, The Christian Science Monitor
“Dahas, a monitoring project by the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center, counted 175 drug-related killings from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2022 – higher than the death toll during Mr. Duterte’s last six months in office.” Read full report
13 January 2023
Conflicting statistics
Manila Standard
“Dahas says there were 175 drug-related killings during the same period. This brings the total drug-related death toll to 324 in 2022 – a year that covered the last six months of the Duterte administration and the start of the Marcos administration.” Read full report
11 January 2023
The Philippines Is Losing Its ‘War on Drugs’
Margaret Simons, Foreign Policy
“In December 2022, Dahas, a research and advocacy project, reported that there had been 152 drug-related killings in the first five months of Bongbong’s regime. This surpassed the 149 killings in the last six months of Duterte’s reign.” Read full report
10 January 2023
Philippine police say 61 killed under Marcos admin’s campaign against illegal drugs in 2022
The Star
“But according to Dahas, a monitoring project run by the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Centre, there were 175 drug-related killings in the country during Marcos’ first few months as President, or between 12 noon of June 30 and Dec 31, 2022.
This, Dahas noted, brings the total drug-related death toll to 324 in 2022 – a year that saw both the tail-end of the Duterte administration and the start of the Marcos administration.“ Read full report
6 January 2023
The Filipino War on Drugs Killed Thousands. Now the Government Is Blaming Corrupt Police
Chad De Guzman, Time
“Dahas, a monitoring initiative from the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center, reports even higher figures: recording 161 killings from June 30 to Dec. 7, 2022.” Read full report
6 January 2023
No sign Philippines drug war will end, despite promises from Marcos Jr.
Chris Fitzgerald, Globe
“The University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center’s Dahas program, which monitors the war on drugs, recently estimated that 127 people have been killed between 1 July, when Marcos Jr began his term, and 7 November.
This is far larger than the Philippine police estimate of 46 people killed during anti-drug operations during this period.” Read full report
20 December 2022
PNP assures public ‘Oplan Tokhang’ won’t be abused if revived
Jean Mangaluz, Philippine Daily Inquirer
“The University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center said 127 people were killed in the government’s anti-drug campaign from July 1 to November 7, but PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the tally was only 46 – which was ‘very minimal.’“ Read full report
15 December 2022
IN NUMBERS: People we lost under Marcos in 2022
Jairo Bolledo, Rappler
“However, the PNP’s number is more conservative compared to the 161 deaths Dahas has recorded from June 30 up to December 7. Dahas is run by University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center, which bases its data on reports about drug killings from various news outlets.“ Read full report
12 December 2022
Protestant Churches decry ‘state of brokenness’ of Philippines’ rights situation
Jose Torres Jr., LiCAS.news
“Citing a study done by the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center, the NCCP said there have been 127 deaths connected with the ‘war on drugs’ from July 1 to November 7 this year, mostly attributed to state security forces.“ Read full report
21 November 2022
PNP on drug war deaths: We have no history of underreporting
Daniza Fernandez, Philippine Daily Inquirer
“International group Human Rights Watch (HRW) earlier claimed that the PNP is underreporting the number of drug war deaths. Citing data from the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center, the HRW said that there were 127 drug war deaths, higher than the police’s record of 46.“ Read full report
17 November 2022
The world is watching
Panay News
“As documented by the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center, there have been 127 deaths connected with the drug war from July 1 to Nov. 7 this year, mostly by state security forces.“ Read full report
17 November 2022
Philippines Undercounts Recent ‘Drug War’ Deaths
Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch
“The police reported that 46 people were killed during anti-drug operations since Marcos took office on June 30. But this is far below the estimate of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center, whose Dahas program monitors ‘drug war’ violence. The program tallied that 127 people were killed in ‘drug war’ incidents from July 1, the day after Marcos was sworn in, to November 7.“ Read full report
14 November 2022
PNP chief: 46 killed in ‘war on drugs’ operations under Marcos
Franco Luna, Philstar
“The number of deaths acknowledged by the PNP is much lower than that monitored by Dahas PH, a running count of reported drug-related killings by the Third World Studies Center at the University of the Philippines, which documented 127 drug suspects killed between July 1 and November 7.“ Read full report
19 October 2022
War on drugs continues in Marcos’s Philippines
Federico Segarra, La Prensa Latina
“The Dahas Project, which has been scrutinizing the drug war since 2017 based on local media reports, admits that in this new stage “there is no way of knowing” if the deaths occur in conditions similar to those of Duterte’s brutal campaign.” Read full report
18 October 2022
Kin of EJK victims hit Remulla son’s ‘special treatment’
Krixia Subingsubing, Inquirer.net
“Drug-related killings also occur under the administration of President Marcos, according to Dahas, a program of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center. It said police and media reports showed more drug-related killings—in which the victim had alleged links to the illicit drug trade — in July, the first month of the Marcos presidency, than in June, the last month of the Duterte administration.
Altogether, 72 drug-related killings were recorded in July and August this year, Dahas said.” Read full report
28 September 2022
ICC finds no basis on PH govt’s arguments, reiterates probe on drug-related killings
Anne Marxze D. Umil, Bulatlat
“The Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines-Diliman claims that the running count on reported drug-related killings in the Philippines continues.” Read full report
25 September 2022
Get drug lords, not small fry, says Marcos
Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Inquirer.net
“Data from the independent monitor Dahas PH, whose members are mostly from the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Programme, have shown that Duterte’s drug war consistently targeted small-time pushers, failing in its promise to bring down so-called high-value targets.” Read full report
24 September 2022
HRW disputes PNP’s ”bloodless’ antidrug efforts this month
Dempsey Reyes, Inquirer.net
“Phil Robertson, HRW’s deputy Asia director, stressed that data by the monitoring group Dahas PH, of which most members come from the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Program, showed “inaccuracy” on the ‘zero’ killings as touted by the Philippine National Police.
From the data of Dahas PH’s researchers, there were two deaths recorded this month, while 73 in July and August—the first two months of President Marcos in office.” Read full report
21 September 2022
PNP claims bloodless anti-drug operations in September
Dexter Cabalza, Inquirer.net
“No casualties were reported in all these operations,” he told reporters at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
However, at least two persons were reported killed after shooting it out with the police, based on the monitoring of Dahas, a research project of the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Department of Conflict and Development Studies of Ghent University in Belgium.” Read full report
31 August 2022
Crime wave?
Manuel L. Quezon III, Inquirer.net
“The UP Third World Studies Center has a Twitter account, @DahasPH, which has been consistently keeping tabs on the killings. Its most recent figures add up as follows: in 2022, there have been 200 drug-related killings, 51 of them since the present administration began (this includes 13 “body dumps”). Reviewing the weekly count, the killings ranged in low single digits except for the week of the President’s first Sona, when 14 were killed, numbers hardly different from Duterte’s last month in office.” Read full report
16 August 2022
Lawmakers, enforcers want ‘community-based’ campaign vs drugs
Franco Luna, Philstar
“However, according to Dahas, a running count of the reported drug-related killings in the Philippines maintained by the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines Diliman, the killings continue to this day, over a month after Duterte stepped down from public office.” Read full report