Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. Presidential Photo
President Rodrigo Duterte continues his support for the police鈥檚 antidrug operations but would make sure that rogue cops would not get off the hook, Malaca帽ang said on Friday.
The President鈥檚 spokesperson made the statement amid reports of more incidents of police officers鈥� involvement in illegal activities conducted in the guise of antinarcotics operations.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson had released video footage of police personnel planting 鈥渟habu鈥� (crystal meth) in office drawers to show that the kidnapping and murder of Korean business executive Jee Ick-joo was not an isolated incident.
鈥淭he proceedings are running on parallel tracks, you know. One is to address the apparent existence of rogue cops. On the other hand, as the President has said, he continues to protect their efforts, assuming regularity,鈥� Abella said in a press briefing.
He noted that Mr. Duterte had promised to deal severely with erring police officers.
The President personally apologized for Jee鈥檚 killing聽 on Thursday, and vowed to ensure that the maximum penalty would be imposed on the perpetrators.