Eleazar assures public no cover-up, neglect in drug war deaths

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar reiterated Wednesday that there is no cover-up in the deaths in anti-illegal drug operations and these are being investigated.

Eleazar responded to the latest report of international rights watchdog Investigate PH, which expressed alarm over the supposed cover up and lack of credible autopsy in the killings during police operations.

“Hindi kailanman naging polisiya ng PNP ang panggigipit at pang-aabuso sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan at lalong lalo na ang pagtatakip ng mga kamalian sa aming hanay,” he said in a statement.

(It is never the policy of the PNP to harass and abuse our poor countrymen especially to cover up the faults of our personnel.)

In its second report, the Investigate PH said the police organization continued to "cover up" the circumstances in the drug war deaths.

The report said that unarmed victims were killed inside their homes, on the street, or being abducted. Weapons or narcotics were "likely planted after," the report pointed out.

"Those killed in anti-drug operations are overwhelmingly poor people unable to assert their rights to due process," it added.

Eleazar underscored that the PNP is open and willing to cooperate in local investigations into the alleged irregularities of cops in anti-illegal drug operations.

He reminded that there were police personnel who were also killed and wounded in their campaign against illegal drugs.

“I understand  your point of ensuring a professional PNP and of human rights-based approach in the conduct of our operations but what I can assure you is that these are all being observed and strictly monitored—the exact reason why there have been thousands of policemen who were punished and dismissed from the service,” he said.—AOL, GMA News