MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it would adopt the recommendation of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in connection with the Supreme Court (SC) decision ordering the government to disclose information on the war against drugs.
“The PNP respects the resolution of the Supreme Court but will take the legal recommendation of the Solicitor General on the matter,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said Wednesday.
“We assure the public that our campaign against illegal drugs is constitutional, legal and is implemented in the interest of public safety,” Bulalacao added.
On Tuesday, the high court denied the OSG’s petition seeking to recall its order for the PNP to submit reports on the death of 3,800 drug suspects in police anti-drug operations.
In his petition, Solicitor General Jose Calida said these documents contain sensitive information that have implications on national security.
Calida said disclosing the requested documents “in the long run will have an undeniable effect on national security and could spell the success or failure of follow-up operations of police and other law enforcement bodies, aside from endangering the lives of those on the list as well as those already in custody”.
The top government counsel has also argued that the documents are “not relevant” in determining the legality of the police anti-drug operations. (Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
