Eleazar orders ‘review’ of junked drug cases

MANILA – The country’s top cop on Monday ordered an accounting of all dismissed drug cases since 2016 as part of the “intensified cleanliness policy”.

“Having data and information on these dismissed drug cases since the war on drugs started in 2016 would truly help the PNP leadership determine the interventions needed so that the junking by the courts of drug cases filed by the police would be avoided in the future,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar told reporters in a press conference in Camp Crame.

He added that the PNP is aiming to improve the conviction rate, particularly in drug-related cases, noting that a higher conviction rate would reflect the success of the campaign against illegal drugs.

“Kailangang masiguro na malakas ang mga kaso na ating isinasampa laban sa mga nahuhuli nating sangkot sa iligal na droga kaya’t nararapat na matukoy natin ilan at ano ba ang nagiging dahilan bakit na-dismiss ng korte ang ilan sa ating mga kaso (We need to make sure that the cases we file against those involved in illegal drugs are strong so we need to identify the reason why some of these cases were dismissed by the court),” he said.

He added that they are also looking into the alleged negligence of police officers as well as those who are in cahoots with drug suspects as among the factors contributing to the dismissal of drug cases.

“Kung magkakaroon po tayo ng mahusay na accounting ng mga dismissed na kaso, mate-trace natin kung sino ba sa ating mga personnel ang sangkot sa katiwalian (If we have good accounting of dismissed cases, we can trace who among our personnel is involved in corruption),” he said.

Eleazar said after a review of these dismissed cases, necessary adjustments and improvements would be made on the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations.

Since the start of the government’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs in July 2016, a total of 289,622 suspects were arrested in 200,632 operations.

Last week, a Makati court dismissed drug charges against local rapper Marlon Peroramas, known as Looney, his sister, and three other people, citing the failure of police personnel to follow the chain of custody rule.

“Kasama sa inutos kong imbestigasyon ay ang pagtutok sa lahat ng aspeto kung bakit na-dismiss ang kaso laban sa rapper na si Looney at ang kanyang kasamahan. Maliwanag na na-dismiss ang kaso dahil sa teknikalidad sa isyu ng rules on chain of custody at ito ang gusto nating tutukan upang hindi na maulit pa (I also ordered a study on all aspects as to why the case against Looney and his companions was dismissed. It was clear that the case was dismissed on technicality over the rules on the chain of custody and we don’t want a repeat of this incident,”

The rapper earlier asked Eleazar for an investigation on the operation against him, citing that he was a victim of evidence planting.

“Ang panawagan niya na imbestigahan ang mga pulis na involved sa ginawang operasyon laban sa kanya ay kasama na sa isinasagawang pag-review ng Committee on Dismissed Drug Cases ng Southern Police District sa kanyang na-dismiss na kaso. At kung makitaan ng komite na may pagkakamali ang mga pulis na iyon, makakaasa siya na mananagot ang kung sino man ang may kasalanan (His call to investigate the police officers involved in the operation against him is already included in the ongoing review of the Southern Police District’s Committee on Dismissed Drug Cases in his dismissed case. And if the committee finds that those policemen are at fault, rest assured that whoever is at fault will be held accountable.),” he added.

Eleazar explained that it is the Committee on Dismissed Drug Cases that evaluates dismissed cases that include misconduct or irregularities that could have been committed by police officers.

Once the committee finds any irregularity on the part of police officers, Eleazar said it will refer the case folder to the appropriate units concerned for the conduct of a pre-charge investigation.