Gov’t ‘rethinks’ war on drugs; No more questionable deaths

THE government said its campaign against illegal drugs will proceed but the manner of its execution will be reviewed. No more questionable executions or deaths, it said.

*** Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said that there will be a “major rethinking and restructuring” of the war on drugs in the wake of public outrage over the recent controversial deaths of three teenagers.

“The fact that the PNP (Philippine National Police) is being investigated, that there are Senate hearings, this indicates that actually the whole nation is in the process of rethinking the way we do things,”he said.

*** “The campaign against illegal drugs is something to which the President is entirely committed – (including) his entire administration,” Abella stressed.

“However, the manner in which these things are carried out need to really be re-examined,” he added.

*** Abella explained that the “major rethinking” falls with the ambit of the President’s campaign to check or reduce illegal drugs, crime, and corruption.

“In other words, it’s not just one isolated event. It’s the whole process that we’re undergoing, that we can see that there is a rethinking, a major rethinking going on,” he said.

*** Concerned groups and opposition senators have called on President Duterte to stop his ” brutal” war on drugs amid the piling of bodies and the recent killings of “innocent” suspects.

Stop the abuses and fire erring policemen, too, they cried.

*** Public outrage rose in the wake of the gruesome murder of 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman who was found dead on a creek in Nueva Ecija, the earlier shooting of Carl Arnaiz (his 19-year-old friend, shot dead by the police on suspicion of robbery in Caloocan City), and the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos by the police during an anti-drug operation in the same city.

Impartial probes will be conducted and justice will prevail, Pres. Duterte has assured.

*** The President also vowed that policemen involved in breaking the law will be brought to justice.

Yes to shooting during encounters but no to unnecessary murder, Duterte said. *** The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) assured that they will run after those responsible for the gruesome stabbing and death of “Kulot,” Arnaiz’s 14-year-old friend, who was found dumped in a river in Nueva Ecija.

With 31 stab wounds, the work of deranged HBs (halang ang mga bituka).

*** Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II directed the NBI “to conduct investigation and case build-up over the death of Reynaldo de Guzman. “

“File appropriate charges thereon,” as evidence warrants, he said.

*** Malacañang expressed “profound dismay” while senators expressed their outrage over the killing of young De Guzman. The height of brutality, they said.

*** Sen. Kiko Pangilinan called on the PNP to arrest the assassins of De Guzman.

Time to “serve and protect” the people, he said.

***

Sen. Grace Poe called for the use of the full force of the law and the entire justice system against the perpetrators of the crime.

“Gruesome and dastardly act,” she said.

*** Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said, “Those who killed the 14-year-old De Guzman are all evil.”

“Wala kayong kaluluwa. Mga demonyo kayo,” he condemned.