PNP tells UN rapporteurs: ‘We respect human rights, rule of law’

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde assured on Monday that the police operates with respect for human rights and the rule of law, after the United Nations human rights experts called for an independent probe on “unlawful deaths” in the drug war.

“As far as the PNP is concerned, all our actions are governed by a set of operational procedures founded on the basic principles of respect for human rights and always consistent with the rule of law,” he said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

READ: Rare joint statement of UN rapporteurs calls for probe of PH killings

Albayalde said the PNP echoes the government’s reservation over yet “another attempt by foreign bodies to meddle into purely national affairs.”

He said that the UN rapporteurs’ concept of “unlawful deaths” is in itself a recognition of the existence of a fully-functional justice system that determines what is lawful and what is not.

“There’s no such official or institutional impunity. Homicide cases with all sorts of motives cannot be categorized under the war on drugs. All deaths during anti drug police operations have been properly investigated,” the PNP chief said.

Albayalde said that with utmost respect for human rights, the PNP upholds the rule of law and follows strict protocols in all anti-drug operations and will not tolerate any wrongdoing of its personnel.

He added that those found to have violated standard police procedures were charged either administratively or criminally, or both, or with other administrative sanctions or dismissal from service. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)