The Philippine National Police (PNP) has nothing to hide amid the recent spate of killings in Cebu City, its chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, said on Monday.
“Wala namang itatago ‘yong PNP,” Albayalde said in his press briefing, after senators from the minority bloc filed a resolution calling for the investigation on the alleged involvement of police officers in extrajudicial killings.
On October 4, 14 were killed in the cities of Cebu and Talisay — nine of them were due to legitimate police operations, and five by unknown assailants.
However, in the incident at Barangay Malubog, Cebu, where police denied any involvement, survivors said that it was police officers who brought and shot them.
Since October 3, there have been 23 people reported killed in the city, and 198 for the entire province since this year.
READ: Senate probe of Cebu slays urged
Albayalde said that documents related to the anti-drug operations are available, before giving an assurance that they are looking at the incident.
“Supported by documents naman lahat ‘yan ang operation nila, may search warrant […] remember every time na merong police operations na merong namamatay na mga suspects, the IAS (Internal Affairs Service) conducts a moto propio investigation,” he said.
He also said that the police force would support any probe into their operations.
“We will support the probe, palagi ‘yan, kung meron talagang investigation or talaga merong resolution that necessitates investigation, we will always support it,” he added.
Critics, including opposition senators, have slammed the government for its bloody war on illegal drugs. According to data from the PNP, there are more than 4,800 killed in police operations. Others say that the number range from 11,000 to 22,000. /je