PNP won’t go easy on anti-drug operations during Christmas season

The Philippines National Police (PNP) won't ease up on its anti-drug operations even during the Christmas holidays, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said Monday.

“'Di tayo titigil diyan dahil iba naman 'yung nag-ooperate [na police unit] sa anti-illegal drugs,” Albayalde said in an interview.

“'Yung gagawa sa operations sa anti-illegal drugs ay hindi naman 'yan maitatalaga doon sa mga ibang duties and responsibilities para sa kapaskuhan lalo na 'yung Oplan Sita, police presence, 'yung pagtatalaga ng police assistance desks lalo na sa malalaking simbahan,” Albayalde added.

He then assured the public that the anti-drug operations and the increased police presence during the Christmas holidays will ensure that this will be a season of merriment rather than a time for increased number of theft cases.

“'Yung pagsasapit ng kapaskuhan ay tumataas 'yung ating crime lalo na 'yung crime against properties natin. That would be a thing of the past,” Albayalde added.

At least 4,900 drug suspects have already been killed under the police's anti-drug operation, but local and international human rights groups have pegged the deaths at 20,000.

The PNP, however, has been adamant in saying that the state does not implement extrajudicial killings as a state policy and that not all death cases are drug-related but are classified as deaths under investigation.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said that his administration's centerpiece policy on war on drugs will be relentless until his term expires in June 30, 2022. —KG, GMA News