Manila drug war chief quits amid narcotics scandal

Manila, October 14 

The Philippines’ top policeman, who leads the nation’s deadly drugs crackdown, quit on Monday as he faces allegations of protecting officers accused of selling a huge haul of seized narcotics.

Though the scandal dates from before Oscar Albayalde’s time as national police chief, it has raised fresh criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature anti-narcotics campaign, which is key to his massive popularity among Filipinos.

As part of Duterte’s internationally condemned initiative, police have killed thousands of alleged dealers and users since mid-2016.

Albayalde’s resignation comes days after two former police officials implicated him in a 2013 raid in which officers in a province near Manila allegedly seized and then sold parts of a large methamphetamine haul. — AFP