ACCORDING to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, human rights are paramount in the police’s campaign against drugs. He also insisted that the police force is not lacking in training on human rights awareness in their operations.
“The rules of engagement are paramount in every police operation, and respect for human rights is one of them,” he said.
This is why police operatives are instructed to conduct outright investigations into cases that are perceived as unjustly executed or were done without due process, Albayalde added.
The police chief also asserted that the safety of police operatives is equally important — specifically, situations that are too dangerous during police operations.
A featured guest in the premier episode of the talk show “The Chiefs” that airs at 8:30 p.m. on One News Cignal TV 8 and 250 (HD), Albayalde talked about police safety and protection.
“What happens on the ground if there is danger on the part of the operatives is something that we cannot control,” he told “The Chiefs” hosts Amy Pamintuan, Ed Lingao and Roby Alampay.
Albayalde also talked about how PNP does not condone any misconduct.
“There have been 608 cases of violations of human rights involving policemen and this is a good indication that we are not tolerating any wrongdoing,” he said.
Lawmen who committed infractions are being filed with administrative and criminal charges, and the PNP is intensifying measures to prevent police officers from committing abuses when implementing the anti-drug campaign.
“Before we used the shotgun approach, anti-illegal drug operations now are limited to identified drug personalities,” he said.
The PNP would continue with what has been started in the war on drugs, Albayalde said, because “it has been a good one, especially in the improved tokhang and buy-bust procedures.”
Presidential Communications Operations Office chief Secretary Martin Andanar, meanwhile, presented the updated and consolidated figures in the campaign against drugs on Tuesday, May 29.
A total of 4,279 drug personalities were reportedly killed in the police’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, and at least P20 billion worth of illegal drugs was seized from July 1, 2016 to May 15, 2018. 192 clandestine shabu laboratories were also dismantled.
#RealNumberPH is the consolidated figure in the accomplishment against illegal drugs, according to Andanar.
“These are real numbers that we need to know, all else are either false, misinformation or fake,” Andanar said.
Through #RealNumbersPH, the PNP is taking intervention to rehabilitate drug surrenderees, as stated by National Capital Regional Police Office chief Director Camilo Cascolan.
About 1.2 million drug personalities have surrendered as of last count.
PNP will continue the intensified campaign against illegal drugs, Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, deputy chief for administration confirmed.
“We know there are more challenges to come, but we assure you that the PNP will never give up until peace and order is achieved. As the president said, we won’t stop until the last drug trafficker, drug pusher, drug lord and user surrender or are put behind bars,” Apolinario said.
