MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) should continue their function to wipe out illegal drugs not only on weekdays but also on weekends as long as it follows rules of engagement, Senator Paniflo Lacson said Monday.
Lacson made this remark after PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa last week said that police visits of suspected drug lords and pushers will only take place on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit may weekend holiday dapat ang mga drug pushers (To be honest, I don’t understand why drug pushers are given weekend holidays),” Lacson said in a statement.
The senator, who is also a former PNP chief, said that the PNP should continue to carry out the war on drugs but follow due process.
“Basta naaayon sa mga umiiral na batas tungkol sa pag aresto, lalo na sa arrests without warrant na hindi naman lumalabag sa Revised Penal Code at sumusunod sila sa mga alituntunin ng rules of engagement, dapat lang na tuloy-tuloy ang law enforcement function ng PNP, lalo na at laban sa ilegal na droga, (As long as it is in line with the law in terms of arrests, especially arrests without warrants, and does not violate the Revised Pena code and follow rules of engagement, the enforcement function of PNP should continue especially when it comes to the fight against illegal drugs),” Lacson said.
The illegal drug campaign of the PNP resumed Monday under the tight watch of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año earlier assured that human rights violations would no longer occur under their watch. (PNA)
