Albayalde on Amnesty's claim that buy-bust narrative is a 'script': Palagi naman nilang sinasabi 'yun

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday described as stereotyping Amnesty International's allegation that the police's buy-bust narrative is a "script" used by enforcers to justify the killings of drug suspects.

"Well, palagi naman nilang sinasabi 'yun. I think that is stereotype already," Albayalde told reporters following the release of AI's report.

Earlier, the London-based group insisted that policemen are trying to justify the killings amid the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign by saying that the suspect fought back.

"This so called buy-bust narrative doesn't meet the feeblest standards of credibility," Amnesty International said in its 2019 report.

The group also claimed that the province of Bulacan has become the bloodiest killing field, noting the increase on the number of killings in the area.

In response, Albayalde noted that at present, there had been no reports about killing in Bulacan. The PNP chief said these are "all allegations that were never proven."

"Atsaka tuloy-tuloy ba? Ngayon nga walang report sa Bulacan eh and it's not only probably Bulacan. Remember 'yung campaign natin against illegal drugs is nationwide. Pinromise natin sa Pilipino na we will not relax, we will not relent dahil 'yan ang pinangako ng Pangulo," Albayalde said.

In a separate text message to GMA News Online, PNP spokesman Colonel Bernard Banac said the police respect Amnesty International's report.

The advocacy group urged the PNP to comply strictly with international laws such as the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials.

It also recommended to the PNP to remove police officers and units who have been involved in fatal shootings and put them under investigation. —KBK, GMA News