(Photo courtesy of NCRPO)
MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Dionardo Carlos, on Friday said he wants to sustain the momentum of the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign with a clean slate.
“We want to re-start the campaign with a clean slate by ensuring that the mistakes of the past will remain in the past, and the reinvigorated campaign will bring the anti-illegal drugs campaign to a higher level, totally responsive to the requirements of due process, transparency and public accountability yet with more teeth and greater efficiency,” Carlos said in a statement.
Carlos expressed optimism that the strategic gains of the PNP anti-illegal drug campaign will continue to deny transnational drug syndicates any foothold in the country, particularly those engaged in the local production of shabu.
He noted that the inflated street-level price of shabu in the country is an indication of the scarcity of supply in the illicit drug market mainly due to the successful implementation of the supply reduction strategy by police and other law enforcement agencies.
He added this should be complemented by an equally rigid demand reduction effort on a whole-of-nation scale.
Carlos also said the PNP looks forward to the early conclusion of the ongoing Department of Justice investigation into homicides resulting from police anti-illegal drugs operations.
“We are confident that the DOJ investigation will succeed in establishing culpability of PNP Units and personnel who may have stepped beyond the limits of their authority out of overzealousness, inadequate training, or lack of supervision. Let the axe fall where it may, the PNP will accept whatever findings of the DOJ probe, to which the PNP assures its complete and unqualified support and cooperation,” he said.
At least 52 cases involving 154 police officers will be prioritized by the joint team of the PNP and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). These cases were already reviewed by the DOJ and were recommended for further investigation and case build-up.
The criminal cases that may be recommended by the team are separate from the administrative cases that would be pursued by the PNP's Internal Affairs Service. (PNA)
