Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar assured that there is no such policy of killing in the drug war.
The PNP Chief made the assurance after the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that killings related to the drug war persist even after four years since Kian delos Santos was killed in a police anti-illegal drug operation in Caloocan City.
“While the case of Kian delos Santos was one of the lowest points of the PNP, it also showcased the strong resolve of the police organization to clean our ranks and initiate aggressive reforms to further institutionalize transparency and accountability,” the PNP chief said.
“Napanagot na natin ang mga pulis na nasa likod ng pagpatay kay Kian delos Santos at patuloy pa rin ang agresibo naming kampanya laban sa mga tiwali sa aming hanay at patunay dito ang mahigit limang-libong pulis na natanggal na sa serbisyo simula noong 2016,” he added.
Based on the PNP data, more than 5,000 policemen were dismissed from the service since 2016 for various offenses, most of these dismissals occurred under the administration of President Duterte.
The figure includes the three policemen who were tagged as responsible for the death of delos Santos. They were already convicted of murder by a Caloocan City court.
Aside from dismissal, thousands more were suspended, demoted and were punished with forfeiture of salary for various minor offenses.
“I would like to reiterate and assure the CHR that it is not and has never been the policy of the PNP to kill in its anti-illegal drug operations. Malinaw din naman ang instruction sa atin ng Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte na gawin kung ano ang nakasaad sa batas subalit kung nalalagay na sa alanganin ang buhay ng pulis ay dapat proteksyunan namin ang aming sarili,” Eleazar said.
“The case of Kian will serve as a constant reminder to all our personnel that we will never tolerate wrongdoings and abuse the power that was given to us by the Filipino people whom he vowed to serve and protect,” he added.
Eleazar assured that possible irregularities in anti-illegal drug operations are immediately investigated because the PNP has no tolerance for police misconduct.
The PNP Chief appealed to the public to continue to trust the Philippine justice system.
“Hindi kinukunsinti at patuloy ang PNP sa pagsasampa ng kasong administratibo at kriminal sa mga police personnel na abusado o tiwali. Ako ay umaapela sa publiko na magtiwala sa justice system ng bansa dahil ito ay gumagana at patuloy na nagbibigay ng katarungan at proteksyon sa mga naaagrabyado,” Eleazar said. (PNP-PIO) – bny
