{"id":799915,"date":"2016-07-27T01:30:21","date_gmt":"2016-07-26T17:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsinfo.inquirer.net\/?p=799915"},"modified":"2016-07-27T14:49:59","modified_gmt":"2016-07-27T06:49:59","slug":"pnp-told-to-triple-efforts-in-drug-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsinfo.inquirer.net\/799915\/pnp-told-to-triple-efforts-in-drug-war","title":{"rendered":"PNP told to triple efforts in drug war"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Philippine<\/a>

Philippine National Police officers . (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO\/NI\u00d1O JESUS ORBETA)<\/p><\/div>\n

EXPECT the Philippine National Police to redouble\u2014and \u201ctriple them if need be\u201d\u2014initiatives against illegal drug activities that have so far left nearly 400 dead\u2014mostly barefooted and slippered slum dwellers described as drug pushers and drug lords.<\/p>\n

Following President Duterte\u2019s call for an even more intense campaign, the PNP said it was feeling the heat, while the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it was actually \u201cencouraged.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a press briefing yesterday, Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said the pressure was on for law enforcers after Duterte ordered them \u201cand all those occupying seats of power and authority, not to lower your guard\u201d on the war on crime and illegal drugs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDouble your efforts. Triple them, if need be. We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier, and the last pusher have surrendered or [have been] put behind bars or below the ground, if they so wish,\u201d Duterte said in his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s now a directive coming from the Commander in Chief so definitely now we will triple the efforts… Those who will truly be pressured are commanders on the ground, because they are the ones who will really deliver,\u201d said Carlos, the PNP spokesperson.<\/p>\n

PNP Director General Ronald \u201cBato\u201d dela Rosa makes sure the PNP delivers \u201cevery day that passes\u201d in the first six months of Duterte\u2019s administration, Carlos said.<\/p>\n

Carlos said there would be an assessment after one month, three months, and six months, and commanders found lacking \u201cmay be replaced.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first month ends this coming Sunday, so we will see if there will be changes done by our Directorate for Operations just to be able to deliver that triple effort that\u2019s required of us by the President in this country,\u201d Carlos said.<\/p>\n

From July 1 to July 25, an Inquirer count showed 392 drug-related deaths. Carlos said 293 people were killed in police operations.<\/p>\n

Mr. Duterte has vowed to stamp out the drug menace, criminality and corruption in three to six months of his assumption of the presidency.<\/p>\n

\u2018Hell to pay\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

CHR Chair Jose Luis Gascon was upbeat that the President had warned officials that \u201cthere will be hell to pay\u201d for abuse of authority.<\/p>\n

\u201cI welcome the clear references to the importance and centrality to human rights, due process, and rule of law that President Duterte mentioned in his first Sona, as well as his reference to not tolerating any abuse of authority from erring law enforcement,\u201d Gascon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have unanimity that rights are about affirming dignity. I assure the government that complying with human rights obligations are about uplifting all humanity and preventing abuses by holding perpetrators to account, and I am encouraged by the commitment expressed by the President that human rights would be upheld and fulfilled,\u201d Gascon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cComplying with them will never provide a shield to wrongdoing or destroy the nation, rather they promote fairness, justice and development. The CHR is ready to engage government to achieve this,\u201d Gascon said.<\/p>\n

Rights no excuse<\/strong><\/p>\n

In his Sona, Mr. Duterte stressed that \u201chuman rights must work to uplift human dignity, but human rights cannot be used as a shield or as an excuse to destroy the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the President also said, \u201cMy administration shall be sensitive to the State\u2019s obligations to promote, protect, fulfill the rights of our citizens, especially the poor, the marginalized and the vulnerable, and social justice shall be pursued, even as the rule of law shall prevail at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duterte is at odds with the CHR, tracing back to his time as Davao mayor when vigilante killings of criminals had also been rampant in the city.<\/p>\n

Report abuses<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carlos urged the public to report abuses.<\/p>\n

But Carlos pointed out that the 293 suspects killed in police operations in July\u2014based on the PNP count\u2014was only \u201c.0017 percent\u201d of the total number of suspects arrested and surrendered nationwide.<\/p>\n

He said intelligence gathering would not be neglected.<\/p>\n

On Mr. Duterte\u2019s manifestation that big-time drug lords were actually outside the country, Carlos confirmed the PNP was working on \u201cinternational cooperation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dela Rosa is currently in Malaysia to attend a weeklong conference of the Asean chiefs of police.<\/p>\n\n

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