On patrol with Manila's police

On patrol with Manila's police

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For Manila's struggling police, the June 30 inauguration of Philippines President-elect Rodrigo Duterte cannot come soon enough.

Duterte, known as "Duterte Harry" for his tough stand on crime, swept to election victory last month on a single policy campaign - wiping out crime in six months by killing criminals, improving policing and increasing pay in the forces.

. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Members of the Philippine National Police Special Reaction Unit gather as part of a police visibility operation.

That was welcome news to police in the Philippine capital who say they are so under-funded that they often have to buy their own bullets and get lifts to murder scenes in funeral service cars because they have no vehicles of their own.

Dhondie Bayaban, inspector of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the police had recently received a base pay rise to 14,000 pesos ($300) a month but welcomed Duterte's pledge of further salary increases.

"It's not that low, but not enough either to sustain a family," said the 41-year-old.

. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
A member of the Philippine National Police stands guard as he detains people as part of the "Rid the Streets Of Drinkers and Youth" operation.

As the police struggle for funds, reported crimes in the Philippines have more than doubled over the last five years to 675,816 last year, according to national police data.

About half of those are deemed serious, but police say the rise can be attributed to increased reporting of offences.

Reported rape cases have jumped 120 percent over the same five-year period, while drug-fuelled crime is also on the rise.

. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
Laboratory equipment used in the productions of methamphetamine hydrochloride is seen during a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency destruction of chemicals and other evidence.

In 2012, the United Nations said the Philippines had the highest rate of methamphetamine use in East Asia, with the U.S. State Department adding that 2.1 percent of Filipinos aged 16 to 64 were using the drug.

. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

With low pay and pressured work, many officers had left the police force, according to Aurea Jane Manalaysay of the PNP Special Reaction Unit.

The 26-year-old single mother was considering emigrating before Duterte, 71, was voted in as the 16th president.

Her hopes are fueled by Duterte's success in tackling crime in Davao, the once-lawless city in the south, where Duterte was mayor for 22 years and where hundreds of criminals were killed in execution-style encounters.

. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Human rights groups have documented at least 1,400 killings in Davao since 1998 that they say were carried out by death squads.

Duterte, who has vowed to bring back the death penalty, has denied any involvement in the murders but repeatedly condoned them.

During the election campaign, he promised the fish in Manila Bay would grow fat on the bodies "pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings" dumped there.

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Slideshow

Bicycle cabs are parked in front of a police station.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Bicycle cabs are parked in front of a police station.

Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) inspect documents at a checkpoint.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) inspect documents at a checkpoint.

Members of the Philippine National Police Special Reaction Unit hold a meeting.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Members of the Philippine National Police Special Reaction Unit hold a meeting.

Members of the Philippine National Police Special Reactions Unit aim their pistols at a target range during an agility test.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Members of the Philippine National Police Special Reactions Unit aim their pistols at a target range during an agility test.

Members of the PNP stand to attention before operation "Rid the Streets Of Drinkers and Youth".
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Members of the PNP stand to attention before operation "Rid the Streets Of Drinkers and Youth".

A member of the PNP uses a megaphone to advise residents of their operation, "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" during a foot patrol.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

A member of the PNP uses a megaphone to advise residents of their operation, "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" during a foot patrol.

A Police Intelligence Officer (R) holds a confiscated pistol during a raid looking for firearms and illegal drugs in a slum area.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

A Police Intelligence Officer (R) holds a confiscated pistol during a raid looking for firearms and illegal drugs in a slum area.

People are escorted by a member of the PNP and a volunteer during the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth".
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

People are escorted by a member of the PNP and a volunteer during the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth".

People queue as they are interviewed by town volunteers while members of the PNP stand guard during the "Rid the streets Of Drinkers and Youth" operation.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

People queue as they are interviewed by town volunteers while members of the PNP stand guard during the "Rid the streets Of Drinkers and Youth" operation.

Youths cover their faces at a police station during the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" operation.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Youths cover their faces at a police station during the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" operation.

A member of the PNP supervises detained men doing push-ups as part of the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" operation.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

A member of the PNP supervises detained men doing push-ups as part of the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" operation.

A member of the PNP looks through the gate of a computer rental shop during  the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" operation.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

A member of the PNP looks through the gate of a computer rental shop during the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" operation.

A agent of the National Bureau of Investigation searchs for evidence during a raid at the home of a police officer and member of the drugs unit.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

A agent of the National Bureau of Investigation searchs for evidence during a raid at the home of a police officer and member of the drugs unit.

A National Bureau of Investigation agent uses a metal grinder to open a vault that contained drugs and around 7 million pesos in cash during a raid at the home of a police officer and member of the drugs unit.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

A National Bureau of Investigation agent uses a metal grinder to open a vault that contained drugs and around 7 million pesos in cash during a raid at the home of a police officer and member of the drugs unit.

A member of the National Capital Region Police Office drug unit covers his face as he is detained for allegedly reselling seized drugs.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

A member of the National Capital Region Police Office drug unit covers his face as he is detained for allegedly reselling seized drugs.

A bag of a methamphetamine, known as shabu, is shown by a National Bureau of Investigation agent after a raid on the home of a police officer and member of the anti-drugs unit.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

A bag of a methamphetamine, known as shabu, is shown by a National Bureau of Investigation agent after a raid on the home of a police officer and member of the anti-drugs unit.

Members of the National Bureau of Investigation count cash found in the home of a police officer and member of the drugs unit, during a raid.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

Members of the National Bureau of Investigation count cash found in the home of a police officer and member of the drugs unit, during a raid.

An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency stands guard in front of chemicals used in the productions of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, during the destructions of chemicals and other evidence.
. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency stands guard in front of chemicals used in the productions of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, during the destructions of chemicals and other evidence.

Manalaysay said she welcomed the help in tackling crime.

"I'm in favor of the death squad because the number of bad people doesn't decrease," she said.

. Manila, Philippines. Reuters/Romeo Ranoco
A member of the PNP handcuffs a man after he tried to escape detention during the "Rid the Streets of Drinkers and Youth" operation.