Poe: Killing drug suspects shouldn’t be a ‘contest’ for cops

Senator Grace Poe. INQUIRER FILE

Killing drug suspects should not be seen as a “contest” among different police units, Senator Grace Poe said on Monday.

If this would continue to be observed in the police, Poe said the government would eventually lose the drug war.

“Mahirap nito ‘yung inaabuso. Hindi ito dapat ‘contest’ ng distrito kung sinong pinakamaraming napatay kasi kung magiging contest ito ng patayan, hindi matatapos ‘yon,” Poe said in an ambush at the launch of Quezon Province’s “First 1,000 Days Program” in Lucena City.

“Paulit-ulit na lang ‘yun dahil may paghihiganti ng mangyayari diyan. Basta ‘pag contest nilang dinadaan ito sa dami ng patayan, walang mananalo dito,” she said.

Several policemen anonymously revealed in earlier reports that they get a monetary reward for every drug suspect they kill. They also claimed that each police stations are given a “quota for killings” that they should regularly meet.

As the Senate investigates the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos, Poe said it would be important to find out whether the victim indeed fought back at the police.

“Sabihin na nating pusher siya talaga o runner, pero talaga bang nanlaban siya? May laban ba talaga siya?” Poe asked.

The Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs is set to probe the incident on Thursday, Aug. 24.

Citing information from the intelligence community, Caloocan police said Delos Santos was used by his father to sell drugs, a claim even PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa supported. JE