Anti Drug

Anti-drug operations

July 23, 2021 People's Tonight 536 views

FILIPINOS, notably victims of drug-crazed criminals, support government efforts to rid the Philippines of drug manufacturers, pushers and users, and habit-forming substances.

However, the public is enraged whenever people accuse policemen and other law enforcers of alleged excesses during anti-illegal drug operations in various parts of the country.

That’s why we commend the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for assuring the Department of Justice (DOJ) that it is free to review illegal drug cases involving policemen.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo “Guilor” T. Eleazar, who is set to retire from the government service on Nov. 13 this year, said the police agency “is open to any investigation.”

Eleazar, a member of Class 1987 of the elite Philippine Military Academy (PMA), vowed to fully cooperate with the DOJ regarding the matter, saying “wala kaming itinatago.”

“If the DOJ will push through with the review of the cases of those police officers who were already cleared, I will guarantee full cooperation,” said the PNP chief from Quezon.

Reports said the PNP leadership plans to review the cases of cops in anti-illegal drug operations where there were deaths, but were already cleared by the PNP Internal Affairs Service.

The PNP had earlier submitted to the DOJ, headed by Secretary Menardo Guevarra, case folders of said police operations.

Meanwhile, Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, a retired army general, reported that since 2017, 17,142 rogue cops have been subjected to disciplinary actions and sanctions.

Of the number, a total of 906 policemen were dismissed from the service, Año said during the pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) forum of the “Security, Peace, and Justice Cluster.”

Certainly, the government will draw the ire of the public if it fails to rid the PNP of “rotten eggs.”

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