PNP probing cops' hand in drug slays –spokesman

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is looking into the claim of two senior police officials that the police force is behind most of the killings of drug suspects amid the government's intensified war against illegal drugs.

"May lumalabas na may dalawang nagsasabi, so anong dahilan nito? Ang ating leadership has tasked already na matignan itong mga isiniwalat [ng dalawa]," said PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos in a briefing Wednesday.

"If the allegations were true, [we have to find out] who were responsible. Kailangan nating malaman 'yun," he added.

Carlos did not divulge which PNP unit is conducting the investigation.

According to a Reuters special report that came out Tuesday, policemen received cash payments for executing drug suspects, planted evidence at crime scenes, and carried out most of the killings they have long blamed on vigilantes.

The report said the information came from two senior officers who are critical of President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs." It did not identify the two, but said one is a retired intelligence officer while the other is an active commander.

"Man up"

Carlos, on Wednesday, urged the two police officials to "man up" and surface.

"Sana nga ho they man up. Hindi ‘yung magtago sa likod ng white cloth. They are former and current members of the organization, there’s an established procedure, there’s a grievance committee, sana in-avail nila ito," he said.

He said the PNP doesn't have a copy of the 26-page report referred to in the Reuters article. 

"Gusto naming pag-aralan yung mismong 26-page report so we can really look at it rather than comment on the specific report," Carlos said.

The report states that police are paid to kill not just drug suspects, but also rapists, pickpockets, swindlers, gang members, alcoholics and other "troublemakers" for P10,000 per head.

No funds

Carlos, in denying the allegation, said the PNP doesn't have the fund for such.

"Unang-una iligal, bawal. Pangalawa, hirap tayo sa pondo at di ho talaga nakalaan, wala tayong nakalaan na pondo para sa ganyan," he said.

He also denied that the PNP plants evidence and shuts down closed-circuit televisions whenever they have operations.

"Napakahirap gawin at the ground level iyan because we don’t have control over the CCTV operation or the recording. Pangalawa, walang ganoong instructions under PNP," Carlos said.

He said the accusations mentioned in the article are not new, noting that PNP chief Director General Ronaldo dela Rosa has addressed them before.

“The issues being raised by the active and retired officer, parang inulit-ulit lang," Carlos said. —KBK, GMA News