Eleazar assures CHR PNP has no policy to kill drug suspects

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday insisted that it is not the policy of the police force to kill drug suspects.

In a statement responding to the Commission on Human Rights, Eleazar said it "has never been the policy of the PNP to kill in its anti-illegal drug operations."

"Malinaw din naman ang instruction sa atin ng Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte na gawin kung ano ang nakasaad sa batas subalit kung nalalagay na sa alanganin ang buhay ng pulis ay dapat proteksyunan namin ang aming sarili," he said.

(President Rodrigo Duterte's instruction is clear -- that we should always follow the law but at the same time we have to defend ourselves if our lives are in grave danger.)

In a statement Monday, the CHR lamented that drug killings persist four years after the death of Kian delos Santos, the teenager who was killed in a police anti-drug operation in Caloocan City.

On August 16, 2017, delos Santos was shot dead by policemen after he allegedly fought back during a police anti-drug operation. However, CCTV footage showed police dragging the teenager to a dark alley where he was later found dead.

A year after the incident, three police officers responsible for the killing were convicted of murder by a Caloocan City court.

Human rights groups said over 20,000 drug suspects were killed since Duterte launched his war on illegal drugs. Government places the number at about 6,000.

Eleazar, in his statement, admitted that the killing of delos Santos "was one of the lowest points of the PNP."

Still, he said the incident "also showcased the strong resolve of the police organization to clean our ranks and initiate aggressive reforms to further institutionalize transparency and accountability."

"Napanagot na natin ang mga pulis na nasa likod ng pagpatay kay Kian delos Santos at patuloy pa rin ang agresibo naming kampanya laban sa mga tiwali sa aming hanay at patunay dito ang mahigit limang-libong pulis na natanggal na sa serbisyo simula noong 2016,” he added.

(We were able to hold accountable the policemen behind the killing of Kian delos Santos and we continue our aggressive campaign against erring policemen. More than 5,000 policemen have been dismissed from service since 2016.)

He said the 5,000 policemen were dismissed from the service over various offenses. Aside from dismissal, thousands more were suspended, demoted and were punished with forfeiture of salary for various minor offenses.

"The case of Kian will serve as a constant reminder to all our personnel that we will never tolerate wrongdoings and abuse the power that was given to us by the Filipino people whom he vowed to serve and protect," Eleazar said.

PGen Eleazar assured that possible irregularities in anti-illegal drug operations are immediately investigated because the PNP has no tolerance for police misconduct.

The PNP Chief appealed to the public to continue to trust the Philippine justice system. —KBK, GMA News