Chief Supt. John Bulalacao (Photo by Noy Morcoso/Inquirer.net)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is not likely to grant requests pertaining to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs, invoking protocol to refer such queries “to the higher authorities.”
PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. John Bulalacao made this remark during an interview on Friday, a day after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the police and military to snub any probe initiated by the United Nations (UN).
“Ang PNP bilang isang ahensya ng Executive department ay nago-obserba ng protocol sa pag-release ng impormasyon na involve ang national security,” said Bulalacao, head of the PNP Public Information Office.
(The PNP as an agency of the Executive department observes a protocol in releasing infomation involving national security.)
“All information that may be requested by international bodies shall pass through proper channel. Therefore, this matter should be referred to the higher authorities,” he added.
In a speech in Davao Cityon Thursday, Duterte told troops not to answer any request from the UN conducting investigation on the government’s so-called war on drugs.
READ: Duterte tells police, military not to entertain UN probe on drugs
“So I’d like to announce. Ulitin ko, inannounce ko na ‘yan noon eh, na back up ko kayo. And pagdating ng human rights o sino mang rapporteur diyan, ang order ko sa inyo: Do not answer. Do not bother [I’ll say it again, I have announced that already before that I have your back. And when it comes to human rights or whoever rapporteur inviting you: Do not answer. Do not bother],” Duterte said.
“Why would we be answering? Bakit, sino sila [Why, who are they]? And who are you to interfere in the way I would run my country? You know very well that we are being swallowed by drugs,” he added.
Duterte’s pronouncements came days after Iceland Foreign Minister Gudlaugur thor Thordarson called on the Philippines to allow UN special rapporteur Agnes Callamard to conduct an investigation on the Philippines’ controversial anti-drug campaign. /kga