Philippine National Police officers . (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)
EXPECT the Philippine National Police to redouble—and “triple them if need be”—initiatives against illegal drug activities that have so far left nearly 400 dead—mostly barefooted and slippered slum dwellers described as drug pushers and drug lords.
Following President Duterte’s call for an even more intense campaign, the PNP said it was feeling the heat, while the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it was actually “encouraged.”
In a press briefing yesterday, Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said the pressure was on for law enforcers after Duterte ordered them “and all those occupying seats of power and authority, not to lower your guard” on the war on crime and illegal drugs.
“Double your efforts. Triple them, if need be. We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier, and the last pusher have surrendered or [have been] put behind bars or below the ground, if they so wish,” Duterte said in his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.
“It’s now a directive coming from the Commander in Chief so definitely now we will triple the efforts… Those who will truly be pressured are commanders on the ground, because they are the ones who will really deliver,” said Carlos, the PNP spokesperson.
PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa makes sure the PNP delivers “every day that passes” in the first six months of Duterte’s administration, Carlos said.
Carlos said there would be an assessment after one month, three months, and six months, and commanders found lacking “may be replaced.”
“The first month ends this coming Sunday, so we will see if there will be changes done by our Directorate for Operations just to be able to deliver that triple effort that’s required of us by the President in this country,” Carlos said.
From July 1 to July 25, an Inquirer count showed 392 drug-related deaths. Carlos said 293 people were killed in police operations.
Mr. Duterte has vowed to stamp out the drug menace, criminality and corruption in three to six months of his assumption of the presidency.
‘Hell to pay’
CHR Chair Jose Luis Gascon was upbeat that the President had warned officials that “there will be hell to pay” for abuse of authority.
“I welcome the clear references to the importance and centrality to human rights, due process, and rule of law that President Duterte mentioned in his first Sona, as well as his reference to not tolerating any abuse of authority from erring law enforcement,” Gascon said.
“We have unanimity that rights are about affirming dignity. I assure the government that complying with human rights obligations are about uplifting all humanity and preventing abuses by holding perpetrators to account, and I am encouraged by the commitment expressed by the President that human rights would be upheld and fulfilled,” Gascon said.
“Complying with them will never provide a shield to wrongdoing or destroy the nation, rather they promote fairness, justice and development. The CHR is ready to engage government to achieve this,” Gascon said.
Rights no excuse
In his Sona, Mr. Duterte stressed that “human rights must work to uplift human dignity, but human rights cannot be used as a shield or as an excuse to destroy the country.”
But the President also said, “My administration shall be sensitive to the State’s obligations to promote, protect, fulfill the rights of our citizens, especially the poor, the marginalized and the vulnerable, and social justice shall be pursued, even as the rule of law shall prevail at all times.”
Duterte is at odds with the CHR, tracing back to his time as Davao mayor when vigilante killings of criminals had also been rampant in the city.
Report abuses
Carlos urged the public to report abuses.
But Carlos pointed out that the 293 suspects killed in police operations in July—based on the PNP count—was only “.0017 percent” of the total number of suspects arrested and surrendered nationwide.
He said intelligence gathering would not be neglected.
On Mr. Duterte’s manifestation that big-time drug lords were actually outside the country, Carlos confirmed the PNP was working on “international cooperation.”
Dela Rosa is currently in Malaysia to attend a weeklong conference of the Asean chiefs of police.
RELATED VIDEOS
