Senator urges ‘civilianization’ of PNP, AFP over killings

Risa Hontiveros. Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday pushed for continued “professionalization” and “civilianization” of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as she expressed alarm over alleged extrajudicial and “unexplained” killings in the country.

“I am also worried. Shini-share ko yung concern ni President at ng ating gobyerno na i-address natin ng epektibo yung concerns natin sa illegal drugs, trafficking at sa krimen, pati na yung mga drug-related crimes pero nakakabahala na ang parang malaking response ngayon ay nagiging itong halos araw-araw na extrajudicial and unexplained killings,” Hontiveros said in a press briefing at the Senate.

(I share with the concern of the President and our government to address effectively the issues of illegal drugs, trafficking and crimes as well as the drug-related crimes but the response of daily extrajudicial and unexplained killings is alarming.)

“Para sa akin hindi yan bahagi dapat ng patuloy na pag-develop ng isang modernong lipunan (I believe that these killings should not be part of continuous development of a modern society),” she said.

Instead of killing the alleged drug suspects, Hontiveros said the government should look at the social and economic roots of the problem.

She said there is also need to continue to reform the PNP and the AFP as they are the main government agencies tasked to ensure the public safety.

“Ang tingin ko dapat patuloy nating i-professionalize, i-civilianize yung ating PNP. Patuloy natin silang suportahan sa pagpapaganda ng kanilang mga terms of engagement, yung kanilang manual of operations para mapigilan nila kung merong mga grupo dyan, overzealous law enforcers man o kaya mga vigilante killers na in fact ginagamit o inaabuso yung anti-drug campaign sa ngayon para pagtakpan yung kanilang mga sariling krimen, higher crimes man yan o mga personal vendetta nila o isang misguided na desire na magpakita ng performance o umabot sa isang quota sa ganitong klaseng anti-drug campaign,” said the senator.

(I think we should continue to professionalize and civilianize the PNP. Let us continue to support them to improve their terms of engagement, manual of operations to stop groups, overzealous law enforcers or vigilante killers who use or abuse the anti-drug campaign to cover up their own crimes, whether higher crimes, personal vendetta or misguided desire to show their performance or reach a quota in the anti-drug campaign.)

Hontiveros said she does not only support but she would also participate in the Senate investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.

Such probe, she said, could help to further improve the government’s fight against illegal drugs and crime.

“At the same time, ang ganyang klaseng probe ay makakatulong din para ma-prevent o kaya maiwasto kung nagkakaroon na ng mga excesses or pag-abuso ng ganitong klaseng anti-drug campaign (this probe would help prevent or correct the excesses or abuses in the anti-drug campaign),” Hontiveros added. RAM/rga

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