PNP to De Lima: Drug war being waged without fear, favor 

Philippine National Police spokesperson Police Colonel Bernard Banac. INQUIRER.net file photo / Cathrine Gonzales

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday lashed back at Senator Leila de Lima, who earlier called the drug war “fake” and “targeted only the poor and defenseless.”

“Despite the limitations in equipment, we are committed to enforce the law on illegal drugs to all, without fear or favor, against rich or poor, even to our fellow cops,” PNP spokesperson Col. Bernard Banac told INQUIRER.net.

Banac’s statement was in response to De Lima’s renewal of criticism to the drug war on Wednesday after the death of six-year-old Gian Habal in Caloocan City on Sunday.

Habal’s death was earlier reported to be caused by a stray bullet during an alleged crossfire between Police Corporal Rocky delos Reyes and a drug personality.

READ: Boy killed in ‘shootout’ between cop, drug suspect

But National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Major General Guillermo Eleazar said on Wednesday that there was no indication of a shootout between Delos Reyes and a drug suspect.

READ: Eleazar: Cop tagged in boy’s death was not in a shootout

He later confirmed the gun that killed Habal was from the caliber .45 pistol of Delos Reyes, who is now under the custody of the police.

READ: Police confirm cop’s gun used in killing of 6-year-old boy 

Despite this, the PNP said it “respects” the opinion of the senator.

“But the war on drugs is real. In fact, it has claimed the lives of some 51 cops who lost their lives fighting illegal drugs,” Banac said.

He said “the mistakes or illegal acts that were committed by a few personnel cannot define the PNP’s campaign on illegal drugs.”

“We continue to uphold the rule of law, respect human rights, and pursue internal cleansing to maintain discipline in our ranks and weed out all rogues, misfits, and scalawags,” he said. /jpv