MANILA–The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday dared Vice President Leny Robredo to be specific and not to generalize the allegations of “palit-ulo” scheme.
In a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, PNP Public Information Office (PIO) chief and spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos urged the Vice President to point out specific instances of the so-called “palit-ulo” scheme allegedly being implemented by the PNP in its anti-drug operations.
Robredo had earlier accused the PNP of allegedly undertaking a “palit-ulo” scheme where a family member of a known drug personality is taken into custody if the drug suspect could not be located.
She also accused the PNP of allegedly committing human rights abuse in their practice of herding people from poor communities into an open area in conducting search operation for drug suspects.
Carlos said the so-called “palit-ulo” is not proper police procedure, and that the PNP will not tolerate such action in conducting “Oplan tokhang” or “Oplan taphang”.
”Clearly, if we follow provisions of ‘Oplan tokhang, well if they were referring to ‘Oplan tokhang 1’, maliwanag doon na ang ating ginagawa ay kakatok sa mga bahay-bahay upang hikayatin silang sumuko,” he said.
He, however, confirmed that the PNP regularly gathers members of the community in one common area in carrying out “Oplan taphang”, or “gather and plead”.
”So kung ito ay gathering them in one place, (Oplan) ‘ taphang’ ito. We gather and plead kasi malalayo yung mga lugar, nagagawa natin ito sa mga malalayong kabihasnan, yung malalayong bahay-bahay sa kabundukan,” Carlos said.
The PNP official said that members of the community, especially those in remote areas, are invited to attend a gathering at the community center, where they are briefed on the PNP’s anti-drug campaign.
So they were asked to invite to go the community center ngunit ‘yung sinasabing palit-ulo na kung wala, hindi pumunta yung drug suspect or drug personality eh ang kapalit yung kamag anak (ay hindi totoo),” Carlos said.
He pointed out that if the PNP is accused of committing any form of abuse in these situations, it’s only proper that accusers identify the specific situation, so those responsible can be identified and appropriately dealt with.