Dissolution of PNP anti-drugs group not permanent, says NCRPO chief

The dissolution of the Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (PNP-AIDG) is not likely to be permanent, according to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde.

"I think this will all come back kasi sabi ng ating pangulo naman at ng ating chief PNP na internal cleansing muna," Albayalde said in a "News To Go" interview on Tuesday.

"And if he sees na maayos na 'yung PNP, then he could probably give back 'yung operations dun sa anti-illegal drugs natin," he added.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Monday announced that the PNP's anti-drug campaign — controversial for its high death toll — has been put on the back burner as it focuses its efforts on cleansing its own ranks after President Rodrigo Duterte called them "corrupt to the core."

Duterte's remark was triggered by the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo by policemen who claimed to be performing an anti-illegal drug operation.

Jee was killed inside Camp Crame on October 18 last year, the same day he was forcibly taken from his house in Angeles City, Pampanga, by a group allegedly led by SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel.

According to Albayalde, Jee's killing "does not really speaks of the level of discipline that the PNP has now."

"Itong internal cleansing natin is part... ng ating discipline mechanism. Meron kaming mechanism on how to discipline our personnel, 'yung erring personnel natin," he added.

He said it would take time before they could completely root out erring policemen from their ranks as their disciplinary mechanisms need to be improved.

"Personally, baka hindi yun completely na sinasabi, total zero. It's just like the crime. Hindi mo pwedeng gawing zero yan," he said. "With 165 and going farther na lumalaki 'yan, siguradong merong dalawa o mangilan-ilan diyan na merong bad eggs."

The PNP-AIDG unit was activated two years ago and was envisioned to become the national operations unit to look into the country's illegal drug problem. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News