Lacson: PNP making history with ‘bold’ drug war

DRUG surrenderers make a vow to change for the better after a personal—but different—encounter with the Pasig City police. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

DESPITE the sharp rise in extrajudicial killings amid the government’s bloody anti-drug campaign, Senator Panfilo Lacson praised the Philippine National Police for making history in the field of law enforcement under the leadership of Director General Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa.

“Right now ang momentum sa laban sa illegal drugs unprecedented not only in recent history but in law enforcement history… Ngayon lang nangyari sa ating bansa na ganito ka-focused at ka-bold, ka-drastic and dramatic ang laban sa illegal drugs,” Lacson told reporters at Camp Crame on Monday.

As of Monday, the PNP counted 612 individuals who were killed in drug-related operations and a total of 576,176 drug users and pushers across the country who surrendered to police.

The former PNP chief also challenged the police to solve extrajudicial killings perpetrated by vigilante groups.

“And 20 (killings) a day is by any measure talagang mataas. If we don’t show the public maso-solve natin, baka isipin state-sponsored itong killings or at least tino-tolerate, na di maganda sa imahe ng pulis,” he said.

“Sa ngayon parang nagge-gain ng traction pa ang vigilante killings sa police operations. I hope not dahil may mission to perform ang ating pulis at kung matatabunan at magkaka-traction lalo ang vigilante killings, sayang ang efforts ng PNP. In fairness to them, they are doing a splendid job against dangerous drugs in this country,” he said.

Last week, the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) said not a single case of extrajudicial executions has been resolved since the government’s drug war went into full swing.

But with the PNP being relentless in its anti-drug campaign, Lacson said he believes a “drug-free” Philippines is now achievable.

“Parang pwede natin sabihin na before napaka-imposible. Pero ang “drug-free PH” sa nangyayari ngayon has now become a possibility,” he said.