Rights abuses in drug war just a ‘perception’ of few – Albayalde

Incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Oscar Albayalde downplayed on Wednesday a human rights group’s claim that abuses by the police force under the Duterte administration is worse than during the Marcos dictatorship.

Albayalde dismissed the assertion of Human Rights Watch (HRW) as mere “perception” of “a few sector only,” and even maintained that the PNP under President Rodrigo Duterte has made an “unprecedented” improvement in peace and order.

“Sabi ko nga this is just a battle of perception. Sino ba nagsasabi nito kundi mga mangilan-ngilan na sektor lang,” Albayalde said in an interview with GMA News to Go.

(Like what I’ve said, this is just a battle of perception. Those saying this are but a few sector only.)

“Why don’t we get kung ano talagang nararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan? Ng ating community? I think unprecedented ang nangyari sa improvement ng ating peace and order,” he added.

(Why don’t we get the real sentiments of our people? Of our community? I think we have an unprecedented improvement in our peace and order.)

HRW Asia Division researcher Carlos Conde said outgoing PNP chief Director General Ronaldo “Bato” dela Rosa would leave behind a police force “with a sordid human rights record unmatched since the Marcos dictatorship.”

Dela Rosa is set to retire from police service on Thursday, April 19.

According to Conde, the retiring PNP head should answer for the thousands of deaths linked to the government’s bloody anti-illegal drugs campaign, which rights advocates claimed to have killed thousands of suspected drug criminals since July 2016.

READ: Human Rights Watch wants Bato accountable for EJKs

Albayalde, who will replace Dela Rosa, said that critics should not “take advantage” of the deaths brought about by the anti-illegal drugs campaign but instead look at the improvement in the country’s peace and order situation.
“Siguro ‘yun (improved peace and order situation) ‘yung tingnan ng ating mga critic. Hindi ‘yung tine-take advantage nila na may namamatay na ganito, namamatay na ganon,” he said.

(Maybe our critics should consider the improved peace and order situation. And not take advantage of the deaths here and there.)

Albayalde has said he would continue with the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign and even pledged to intensify the crackdown.

READ: New PNP chief to obey SC, intensify ‘Tokhang’

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