--- description: The death toll from the Philippines' war on drugs has risen to nearly 1,800 in the seven weeks since President Duterte took office title: Nearly 1,800 Have Died in the Philippines' War on Drugs image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2a1ad96f859dce49/6988a342524fc02655df93d6/gettyimages-592249142.jpg?branch=production ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Almost 1,800 People Have Died in Seven Weeks in the Philippines' War on Drugs by [Rishi Iyengar](/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 23, 2016 4:06 AM CUT  Ronald dela Rosa, center, Philippine National Police director general, testifies in Manila on Aug. 22, 2016, at the start of a Senate inquiry into a spate of extrajudicial killings Ronald dela Rosa, center, Philippine National Police director general, testifies in Manila on Aug. 22, 2016, at the start of a Senate inquiry into a spate of extrajudicial killingsTED ALJIBE—AFP/Getty Images by [Rishi Iyengar](/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 23, 2016 4:06 AM CUT The death toll from the Philippines’ war on drugs initiated by new President Rodrigo Duterte has risen to [nearly 1,800](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-duterte-un-killings-idUSKCN10X0IS "undefined") in the seven weeks since he took office, far higher than originally believed, the country’s police chief revealed during a Senate hearing Monday. Ronald dela Rosa, the head of the Philippine National Police, told a Senate committee that 712 people have been killed since Duterte was [sworn in](http://time.com/4388937/philippines-rodrigo-duterte-president-inauguration/ "undefined") on June 30, Reuters reported. Another 1,067 drug-related killings, reportedly carried out by vigilantes, are being investigated. **Read next:** [_This Is Why Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte Will Get Away With Murder_](http://time.com/4453587/philippines-rodrigo-duterte-dictator-impunity-marcos/ "undefined") The figure is higher than the 900 deaths previously cited by officials, which included those killed between Duterte’s [election victory](http://time.com/4328007/why-the-philippines-elected-the-punisher-as-president/ "undefined") on May 9 and his assumption of the presidency. The 71-year-old was elected by a landslide on a campaign promise to eradicate drug crime. He has threatened to “butcher” criminals and called on the populace to kill [drug dealers](http://time.com/4357763/rodrigo-duterte-reward-kill-drug-dealers/ "undefined") themselves. **Read next:** [_Why the Philippines Elected ‘the Punisher’ as President_](http://time.com/4328007/why-the-philippines-elected-the-punisher-as-president/ "undefined") His words, and the actions they have inspired, have caused international human-rights advocates to [condemn](http://time.com/4359466/un-duterte-philippines-incitement-violence/ "undefined") his no-holds-barred campaign against drugs. Duterte has responded by saying he doesn’t “care” about human rights, and has threatened to [declare martial law](http://time.com/4446169/duterte-philippines-martial-law-drugs/ "undefined") and [leave the U.N.](http://time.com/4460807/rodrigo-duterte-fires-officials-united-nations-drugs-corruption/ "undefined") if the world body interferes with his war on drugs. \[[_Reuters_](http://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-duterte-un-killings-idUSKCN10X0IS "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4462382/philippines-duterte-1800-killed-drug-war/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4462382/philippines-duterte-1800-killed-drug-war/"},"headline":"Almost 1,800 People Have Died in Seven Weeks in the Philippines' War on Drugs","datePublished":"2016-08-23T04:06:47.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T00:08:17.311Z","description":"The figure is higher than the 900 deaths previously cited by officials","url":"https://time.com/4462382/philippines-duterte-1800-killed-drug-war/","keywords":["Senate","Drugs","war","Philippines","Dead","Hearing","duterte"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2a1ad96f859dce49/6988a342524fc02655df93d6/gettyimages-592249142.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rishi Iyengar","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2a1ad96f859dce49/6988a342524fc02655df93d6/gettyimages-592249142.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"PHILIPPINES-POLITICS-CRIME-DUTERTE","caption":"PHILIPPINES-POLITICS-CRIME-DUTERTE","creditText":"TED ALJIBE—AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4462382/philippines-duterte-1800-killed-drug-war/","name":"Almost 1,800 People Have Died in Seven Weeks in the Philippines' War on Drugs"}}]}] ```