No tolerating ‘druggie’ cops

After Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said recently that he knew of at least three police generals involved in the illegal drug trade, the Philippine National Police countered that it did not tolerate any members dealing narcotics.

[The police] regularly conducted “internal cleansing” of its ranks as part of the organization’s own antidrugs campaign, PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez said.

“The PNP does not tolerate any member who violates the law, as he is not worthy of wearing our uniform and should be removed from our ranks,” he said Thursday.

Marquez issued a statement after Duterte in an interview with reporters on Wednesday said he knew of at least three police generals based in Metro Manila who were involved in illegal drugs. He said he obtained the information from “intelligence.”

Duterte, however, declined to name the police officials. The presidential candidate is running strong with anti-criminality as his main platform.

Marquez urged those with information on the involvement of police officers and the lower ranks in illegal drugs to come forward.  Julie M. Aurelio