PNP maintains war on drugs a ‘necessity’ – ABS-CBN News

Jocelyn stands near the casket at the wake of her husband, Cesar Carillo, Friday, dawn. He was abducted by masked men on June 6, then a day later, he was found dead, his body showing signs of torture. Carillo was one of two suspected victims of drug related killings in Navotas June, 9, 2017 Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA- What happened was a necessity.

A year since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, his top cop maintains the necessity of the campaign that launched the Philippines in the international stage anewthe war on drugs.

What happened was a necessity para magbago, a necessity element for the change weve been looking for, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Friday.

The police have been the lead agency in Dutertes anti-narcotics campaign with its series of Oplan Tokhang (knock and plead) operations throughout the country. Police officers knock at the homes of suspected drug peddlers and users and plead for them to surrender.

The campaign has earned praises and criticism from different sectors locally and internationally. It has also earned the PNP allegations of abuses, particularly extrajudicial killings.

Police data shows that nearly 3,000 drug suspects have died in presumed legitimate police operations in Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs.

Out of 9,432 homicide cases from July 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017, or the first nine months of the Duterte administration, 1,847 have been found to be drug-related, with 5,691 cases under investigation.

Duterte's anti-narcotics drive has also resulted in a 26.45 percent drop in the estimated total drug market and a 28.57 percent reduction in index crimes, according to police data.

Though controversial, the campaign has improved the security climate said Dela Rosa, noting that he has heard stories of Filipinos saying they felt safer to walk in the streets.

If we did not declare war on drugs, this problem could not be addressed, could not be unmasked, could not be uncovered, Dela Rosa said.

National Capital Region Police Office Regional Director Oscar Albayalde said the campaign is simply a fulfillment of Dutertes campaign promise.

I think hes (Duterte) making good [on] his promise with regards to his war on drugs. Hes very serious on this and this has direct effects on the different crimes that has been going on or that are being committed particularly here in Metro Manila, he said.

DIFFERENT APPROACH?

Asked if the police plan to take on the narcotics problem as a public health issue as other sectors have called for, Dela Rosa said that he, as a police officer, has to look at the problem from his own perspective.

For me, being a police officer, I must treat the problem from my own point of view. Being a police officer, that's a problem on criminality, he said.

We feel that the problem is ours. Lately, nakita natin na kailangan the problem should be addressed by the whole of government approach and, lately, [the] whole nation, he added.

The PNP chief, however, welcomes help from the Department of Health in approaching the problem as a health concern.

Siguro dapat DOH na ang mag-treat ng problem as a health problem, he said.

NO MERCY

Under Dutertes leadership, the police force has been hounded by several controversies such as corruption, involvement in the drug trade, and abuse of power. But throughout all of these, the PNP has enjoyed the backing of the president.

Albayalde said Duterte's support for the police should not be taken as a signal to commit abuses.

I think its within the limits of the law. Hindi niya (Duterte) ibig sabihin na when you violate the law, you still have his back, Albayalde said, adding that he believes the police have not abused their power because of the presidents assurance of protection.

Dela Rosa, on the other hand, maintained that he has no mercy for erring cops.

I think I am the chief PNP who has dismissed a lot of people already in so short a time, he said.

I have no mercy as far as itong mga erring personnel, mga ninja cops, itong mga personnel ng PNP na involved sa sindikato, I have no mercy for them. I have to hit them head on, he said.

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PNP maintains war on drugs a 'necessity' - ABS-CBN News