Cops’ return to drug war not a ‘license to violate human rights’

MANILA— Senators on Friday reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) that the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to bring police back to the war on drugs is not a license for them to kill or violate human rights.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said Duterte wanted to return the lead role in the drug war to the police because he is not satisfied with the performance of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“If the drug war will be returned to the Philippine National Police, let me remind our policemen that the words of strong support by the President is not a license for them to go on a killing spree and/or wanton violation of human rights,” Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said in a press statement.

Ejercito also said that the President’s trust and confidence does not imply absolution of their mistakes that led to deaths of innocent civilians.

The senator, however, said that he still believes that the PNP is an organization of “upright men” who protect human rights and dignity.

He also urged them to “remain loyal to their code, honor, and duty to serve the public” and to “uphold the rule of law at all times.”

Ejercito said he believes that 90 percent of PNP personnel are “good men” who won’t tolerate “a few rotten eggs” to destroy the reputation of the whole organization.

Senator Grace Poe, for her part, suggested that the PNP can instead lend its full operational muscle to fill up the lack of manpower besetting the PDEA.

Poe pointed out that the PNP has been involved in too many controversial operations and cast doubt on the organization’s ability to uphold the rule of law and respect basic rights.

“With PDEA remaining on top of the operations and with PNP as main support, the government will be able to help rectify the manner or conduct of such operations. This is also consistent with the president’s desire to pursue a more vigorous anti-drug campaign,” Poe said.

She also urged the PNP to clean up its organization and strengthen the Internal Affairs Service.

Moreover, she said that the drug problem of the Philippines should be “considered a health and socioeconomic issue.”

Like Poe, Senator Risa Hontiveros urged the President to let PDEA continue leading the country’s anti-drug campaign.

Hontiveros said that the PNP and other law enforcement agencies can take a secondary and coordinating role to augment the agency’s organizational limitations.

She said the PDEA anti-drug campaign is already “making significant strides.”

Citing data from PDEA, Hontiveros said that from July to November of this year, the agency has arrested a total of 117,268 drug personalities and conducted 78,619 anti-drug operations. Some 2,525.77 kilos of shabu worth PHP18.9 billion were seized in the same period.

She described the decision to return the drug war to PNP as “ill-advised” and “a real danger to the public and the greater goal of true peace and order.”

Hontiveros urged the government to also implement a public health approach together with a rules-based law enforcement strategy to respond to the drug problem.

“The government must include a comprehensive public health approach to the country’s drug policy and establish appropriate barangay-based programs and services for drug-related issues and concerns. I reiterate, the drug problem is a fundamental health issue and not just a peace and order concern,” Hontiveros said.

For now, she said the most important task for PNP is to cleanse its ranks, regain the trust of the public, redeem its reputation, and pursue an investigation of extrajudicial killings.