PNP reassigning some Mindanao officers to Metro Manila drugs drive

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa is considering the reassignment of police personnel from Mindanao to Metro Manila to undertake the anti-drug operations there.

Dela Rosa announced during the celebration of the 116th police service anniversary here last Monday that he will be asking policemen from Mindanao to volunteer for reassign-

ment in Metro Manila, particularly in Caloocan City, to help in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Dela Rosa had earlier ordered the relief of the entire Caloocan police force to undergo retraining after several of its personnel were involved in the killing of two minors, Kian Lloyd delos Santos and Carl Arnaiz, during anti-drug operations.

But the PNP leadership clarified that it has not issued any order yet to transfer policemen from the Davao Region to Caloocan City.

Even if it would be implemented, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos doubts that it would be the entire Davao City police force which will be flown and brought in Caloocan City.

“I don’t think it’s the entire Davao PNP. It could be some who will compose the group in Caloocan,” said Carlos.

Dela Rosa led the celebration of the police service anniversary at the Police Regional Office-12 headquarters here where he conferred awards on several police officers. He cited the accomplishments of the regional command under Chief Supt. Cedrick Train which conducted “tokhang” operations on some 500,000 residential houses, that led to the surrender of some 42,000 drug personalities and the arrest of some 2,500 suspected drug pushers.

The police chief asked members of the PRO-12 to volunteer to be reassigned in Caloocan City. “The PNP needs your commitment to help in the war against illegal drugs so that we will be able to save many lives,” Dela Rosa said.

He reminded policemen to carry out anti-drug operations within the bounds of the law. He said there is no state policy that the police will execute suspected drug offenders. He said there is no directive from President Rodrigo Duterte allowing the execution of suspects during anti-drug operations.

He said the campaign against illegal drugs is still far from over.

“Our country is not yet safe from harm and danger of illegal drugs,” Dela Rosa said. However, the PNP is losing hope that it can eliminate illegal drugs soon with the active support and cooperation of the community, he said. (With a report from Aaron B. Recuenco)