PNP chief: We’re winning drug war

PNP Chief General Ronald De La Rosa. EDWIN BACASMAS/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Philippine National Police is satisfied with the results of the war on drugs, according to the top cop.

There have been problems, but nothing without a remedy, he said.

“We are winning the war. I am very satisfied,” PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said at a recent news conference.

“It’s just that along the way, we encountered problems. But we do give it attention and solution,” he said.

Dela Rosa measured the campaign’s success by what the public was saying about it.

“Go out in the streets, ask people if they feel safe. If they [say they don’t], then we’re a failure. If they [say they do], then we’re successful. I can honestly tell you: People in the streets say they do feel safer now,” he said.

Dela Rosa cited the 27-percent decrease in index crimes over the past year.

“[That means] a lot of crimes are drug-related. If you attack the [drug problem], the [crime problem] will also decrease,” he said.

But the campaign has been hurt by the involvement of some police in the drug trade and even in possibly drug-related murder.

Dela Rosa cited the kidnapping and murder of a Korean businessman by narcs last year as the lowest point in the war on drugs, which drove President Duterte to suspend the campaign and dismantle the PNP antinarcotics unit.

The abduction and murder of Jee Ick-joo also led to the dismissal of the narcs involved and to a cleansing of the ranks that cost 160 other rogue officers their badges.