MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed on Thursday, August 31, how much methamphetamine or “shabu” they have collected in police operations since the administration waged a war against illegal drugs on June 30, 2016.

“We have confiscated 1.68 million grams (1,680 kilograms) of shabu,” PNP operations Chief Superintendent Camilo Cascolan said during the budget briefing of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) before the House committee on appropriations.

Cascolan revealed the number after Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon asked for the drug war’s success indicators. (WATCH: Rappler Talk: The PNP’s return to the war on drugs)

In a text message later sent to Rappler, Cascolan said they pegged each gram as worth P5,000, meaning all the shabu they have seized to date has amounted to P8.4 billion.

The PNP was defending the P900 million budget they requested for Oplan Double Barrel, its two-tiered flagship project to combat illegal drugs that goes after both high-value targets and small-time drug operators.

In addition to collecting illegal drugs, Cascolan told lawmakers the PNP has lowered the frequency of all crimes, except for killings. (READ: Except for killings, all crimes drop in Duterte’s 1st year)

In its annual report, the PNP tallied a drop of 9.8% of all reported crimes.  Incidence of killings, however, rose by 22.75%.

This development has alarmed human rights groups and advocates, accusing police of deliberately killing drug suspects in operations. Police have repeatedly denied the allegations and have invoked the presumption of regularity. – Rappler.com