PHILIPPINE National Police chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil on yesterday exhorted his men to bring back the dignity of the police uniform by, first and foremost, not doing chores for others.

“Please help bring back the dignity of our uniform. First, bawal po dapat na nagdadala tayo ng paying para sa iba. Let us respect our uniform. Hindi po tayo driver, hindi po ttayo alalay, pulis po tayo ng bayan,” the top cop said in a short speech during the Monday flag-raising rites at Camp Crame.

The PNP chief has emphasized time and time again that police bodyguards in particular are not errand boys who have to carry umbrellas for their VIPs or do marketing chores for them or serve as their drivers.

The Police Security and Protection Group now under Brigadier Gen. William M. Segun has maintained that holding umbrellas and opening doors for VIPs and running errand like driving the children of their protectees to school are not part of their job.

The PNP leadership also reminded VIPs including active and retired government officials and private citizens to refrain from turning their PSPG Protective Security Personnel literally into ‘utusan, tagabuhat ng bag, taga-pamalengke, driver or utility men.

Gen. Marbil also emphasized the need for all officers and men of the 232,000-strong police force to just do the right thing.

“Hindi po masamang gumawa ng tama but let us do the right thing and make a difference,” he said as he underscored the PNP’s commitment to international human rights protocols.

“Let us observe human rights, let us observe human life at lahat po ng tao ay may pag-asa,” he said.

The PNP chief earlier announced a recalibrated police strategy to combat illegal drug trafficking and abuse in the country with the PNP this time giving priority in targeting the ‘sources and supply chains’ of shabu and other prohibited substance rather than focusing on street-level pushers and users.

This approach, the top cop explained is designed to be a more effective and less bloody campaign by putting premium on human rights and addressing the drug problem at its very core.

Gen. Marbil characterized the drug problem as complex issue, comparing it to the mythical Hydra, where cutting off one head causes more to grow in its place.

“Our previous strategies concentrated too much on cutting off the heads, but we need to target the body— the entire supply chain and the sources driving the drug trade,” he said.

The recalibrated strategy will involve intensified intelligence operations and stronger community engagement to identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks, the PNP chief said.

“We are now focusing on high-value drug personalities and the movements of illegal drugs across the country. These are the real targets—those who orchestrate the trade and profit from it, not the street-level pushers and users, who are often victims of circumstance,” he said.

The PNP chief also underscored the importance of minimizing violence in this new approach.

“We aim to address the drug problem without resorting to bloodshed. By focusing on the real culprits and protecting the victims, we can make our communities safer while respecting human rights,” he said.

Gen. Marbil also said that their new strategy shift aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a safer and more secure Philippines and added that this recalibrated strategy is a crucial step toward achieving that objective.

“With this approach, we are not only saving lives but also working toward a better future for our nation. We are committed to addressing the drug issue with compassion, strategy, and adherence to the rule of law,” he said.