PNP to beef up anti-drug campaign vs. ‘high-value targets’

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac made the remark after President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants the next PNP chief to ensure that he can eliminate drug lords from the country, (File Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it will continue to intensify its campaign against illegal drugs, this time focusing on high-value targets (HVTs).

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac made the remark after President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants the next PNP chief to ensure that he can eliminate drug lords from the country,

“Walang dapat ikabahala. Alam naman natin ang Pangulo ay talagang nagbibigay ng diin sa kanyang kampanya laban sa illegal na droga at nais niyang tukuyin ay, of course, ‘yung ating pagtugis sa mga HVTs katulad nung mga drug lords at mga drug traffickers (There is nothing to worry about because we know that the President is really emphasizing his campaign against illegal drugs and he wants to arrest the HVTs like drug lords and drug traffickers),” Banac told reporters when sought for a comment on Tuesday.

He added that the President might have been looking for somebody who will be able to continue the intensified anti-illegal drug campaign, stressing that all senior officers of the PNP are qualified for the post as they are also want to go after the HVTs),” Banac said.

Duterte earlier said it was not enough to be recommended with a list of contenders for the next PNP chief because he was expecting a “better deal”.

“They are all good. I want a better deal. It is not enough that you recommend to me,” Duterte said.

“Kung sabihin mo, ‘Sir, pag ako ang pinili mo, patay lahat ng drug lords…’ ‘Ok, ikaw’ (If you say, ‘Sir, pick me and all drug lords will be eliminated. ‘Okay you)’. If you can’t give me that guarantee, e ayaw na (I won’t pick you),” he added.

Currently, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa is one of the top candidates as the next PNP chief.

The other contenders for the post are Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, deputy chief for operations; and Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, former Metro Manila police director and now head of the directorial staff.

The successful candidate will replace Gen. Oscar Albayalde who retired on November 8.

Ahead of his retirement, Albayalde was dragged into the ‘ninja cops’ mess in connection with a controversial anti-drug operation in Pampanga in 2013 during his stint as the province’s police chief.