by Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA
All police officers assigned in anti-illegal drug operations must strictly adhere to existing policies and guidelines.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, made the reminder Thursday to all police operatives for them to avoid operational lapses, mishandling situations, and ineffective supervision of subordinates in some cases.
The reiteration aims to avoid putting the organization, as well as the government’s war against illegal drugs in peril, citing some lapses committed by police personnel were being used by some critics and detractors to put the campaign in a bad light.
In a memorandum released this week, Albayalde reminded directors of all Police Regional Offices to ensure that selection and vetting procedures are properly observed in the activation and organization of Drug Enforcement Units in all levels with a quarterly evaluation to assure credibility.
All regional directors were also ordered to supervise anti-illegal drugs operations, especially in the arrest of high-value targets and other drug suspects within their area of responsibility, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
All unit commanders were also reminded to supervise and monitor the operations and activities of their anti-illegal drugs units against possible irregularities that often drag down the image of the PNP.
“As we focus on the upcoming 2019 mid-term elections, the PNP is also upgrading its well-sustained mechanism to intensify our relentless crusade against illegal drugs,” the PNP chief said in a statement.
On the matter of human rights, Albayalde said the PNP remains responsive to the requirements of due process, rule of law and human rights in all police operations, assuring it is an institutional policy in the and deeply-rooted in police doctrine, systems and procedures.
The guidelines cited command responsibility should be practiced by every commander in the field, unit commanders and team leaders/ supervisors must closely monitor and supervise the activities of the unit and all its personnel.
“Every PNP personnel must be given specific duties to as an agent of change in the community, he must know and report his neighbor involved in illegal drugs and crime,” the PNP chief pointed out.
The PNP Directorate for Operations has set a rigid and comprehensive vetting and selection process for personnel to be assigned in anti-drug operations that will be applied through stringent screening and thorough background investigation.
According to Maj. Gen. Mao Aplasca, the PNP leadership will file administrative and criminal charge against police personnel found remiss in this duty, as part of their internal cleansing program.
