SFPD ends 16-year exchange program with PNP over ‘drug deaths’

The 16-year long exchange training program between the San Francisco Police District (SFPD) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) is now over.

California news station KPIX reported that the SFPD ended its Philippine Exchange Training Program due to "concerns over allegations of civil rights and human rights violations in the Philippines" in its "bloody" war on drugs.

The Filipino-American organizer of the Philippine Exchange Training Program, retired SFPD Lieutenant Eric Quema, said that the turmoil in the country was affecting different segments.

"Our nation is in turmoil and trouble and it just gets worse and worse, economically, because of this controversy, it's affecting every segment of making us a better nation and a better people," said Quema.

Members of the SFPD officers were in the Philippines just last year doing charity work in schools, training Filipino officers on how to better fight crime, and donating equipment to the PNP.

Since President Rodrigo Duterte launched the intensified campaign against illegal drugs in July, 1,725 drug suspects have been killed.

A total of 31,629 drug suspects have been arrested in 32,909 operations, while 751,703 have surrendered to the authorities.

In an interview with KPIX's Cate Cauguiran, PNP Chief Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa said that Filipinos perceive him as their "hope."

"They perceive me as their hope, to be there with president in eliminating the drug menace and criminality in the country," Dela Rosa said.

Asked if death was the appropriate punishment for the suspects, Dela Rosa answered, "It depends."

"If we cannot get them in the regular manner or the legal way, there are some other ways, there are some other options," he said.

But while Quema balks at the consequences of the war on drugs, he would not render judgment on the war on drugs in the Philippines.

"This is someone else's country, maybe you should live in there and see how it is. It doesn't justify it or not, but maybe it will give you a better perspective on why they're coming on so hard," Quema said.

"Try to get some diplomatic talking and communication going on because fighting back and forth just drags everybody down, breaks ties that have been historically there for years," he added.

Duterte recently scrapped the annual military exercises between the United States and the Philippines.

He also announced during his state visit to China that he is "separating" from the US, not just in the military but in economics too. —NB, GMA News