Cascolan insists PNP adheres to rule of law amid latest call from UN rights chief

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan on Wednesday maintained that the rule of law is always being upheld in its anti-illegal drug operations amid new statement from United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

Bachelet, during the opening of the 45th Human Rights Council session in Geneva, called on the Philippine government to "revoke" policies which allegedly resulted in thousands of killings and human rights violations in the drug war.

"You know I always adhere to the rule of law. We always adhere to the rule of law. We never tolerate those who violate human rights. That's basic," Cascolan told reporters in Camp Crame when asked on his reaction to Bachelet's statement.

Cascolan also said the police are following standard operating procedures in their implementation of drug war.

"First and foremost, we follow specific operational procedures. Secondly, we use our common sense. That's why in all our daily activities, whether law enforcement, administrative or not, we always stick to SOP procedures, protocols," he said.

"There's no room for violation of the rule of law or violation of the human rights. There were a lot already who have filed cases, arrested and imprisoned due to the violations of human rights."

Bachelet, in her statement, has urged Philippine officials "to halt the use of rhetoric inciting violence against people who use or sell drugs."

She was also concerned about reports on the persistence of drug-related killings, allegedly by "both police and vigilantes," amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"There is clearly an urgent need to revoke the policies that continue to result in killings and other human rights violations, to bring to justice the perpetrators, and to halt the use of rhetoric inciting violence against people who use or sell drugs," Bachelet said.

In a separate message, PNP spokesman Police Colonel Ysmael Yu said the PNP is "encouraged by the overwhelming expression of public support to this crusade and are poised to sustain the momentum of the national anti-illegal drugs campaign."

Local and international human rights groups have criticized President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs due to the alleged extrajudicial killings perpetuated amid the enforcement of the campaign.

Critics of the drug war said the number of killings has increased to more than 27,000 while law enforcers estimated the number of slain drug suspects to 6,000. —KBK, GMA News