Eleazar: PNP taking active role in review of drug war
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar has assured the citizenry that they are taking an active role in the review of the government’s war on drugs.
President Duterte earlier told the United Nations General Assembly that he had instructed the PNP as well as the Department of Justice to review the conduct of the campaign against illegal drug trafficking and abuse.
The Commander-in-Chief also vowed that those found to have acted beyond bounds shall be made accountable before Philippine laws.
“We have done a lot in terms of strengthening transparency and accountability in the PNP. From the immediate actions on our erring personnel, the distribution of body-worn cameras and the strong coordination with the Department of Justice for the review of cases relating to the campaign against illegal drugs, these all prove that we are not hiding anything and that there is no reason for us to do so,” said Eleazar.
The top cop said that this is actually consistent with the marching order given by President Duterte when the latter appointed him as the country’s 26th PNP chief. The President’s order to Eleazar: do what is legal and what is right.
“Makikita natin sa sinabi ng ating Pangulo na hindi niya kukunsintihin ang sino mang opisyal na umaabuso sa kapangyarihan tuwing may mga operasyon laban sa ilegal na droga. Ito rin naman ang panuntunan natin sa PNP,” Eleazar said.
The PNP chief said they also have made sure that all police operations that resulted in deaths or injuries of both the target of the operations and concerned police officers are always reviewed by the PNP Internal Service.
This is regardless of whether the police operations are related to illegal drugs or not.
In this way, he said the PNP will make sure that all personnel are following the Police Operational Procedures.
As part of their protocol, Eleazar said the PNP will submit to the decision of the Chief Executive pertaining to the release of the documents on police operations on illegal drugs.
“As a law enforcement agency under the Executive branch of the government, we are bound by time-honored protocols and these must be followed under the concept of chain of command – with the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government as our immediate supervisor and finally the President as our Commander-In-Chief,” he said.
