House leaders warming up to PNP drug war?
Ranking members of the House of Representatives don’t seem to mind the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) re-handling of the Duterte administration’s antiillegal drug campaign.
That is, as long as the reported extrajudicial killings or EJKs stop.
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Barbers, CIBAC Party-List Rep. Sherwin Tugna, AKO-Bicol Party-List Rep. Alfredo Garbin, Isabela 1st district Rep. Rodito Albano, and Quezon City 2nd district Rep. Winston Castelo said they are all open to the PNP joining the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the conduct of the drug war, but the abuses must be kept in check.
“I will definitely support or endorse that it be returned to PNP if EJKs will be committed by PDEA agents and if drug-related crimes like rape are on d rise again,” said Barbers, chairman of the House Dangerous Drugs panel.
Earlier PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said the police force would be ready to take over the drug war once again if President Rodrigo Duterte gives such order.
Dela Rosa expressed worry over the alleged rise in crimes that he claimed are the handiwork of drug addicts, in particular the rape and slay of a young woman in Pasig City. The body was subsequently burned by the perpetrator.
Duterte named PDEA as the lead agency in the anti-drug campaign a few weeks ago in what appeared to be a response to critics of the PNP’s bloody operations.
Constitutionality
Meanwhile, government lawyers asked the Supreme Court (SC) yesterday to dismiss two petitions that challenged the constitutionality of the government’s drive against illegal drugs.
Through Solicitor General Jose Calida, the SC was told that there is nothing unconstitutional in the implementation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Command Memorandum Circular (CMC) No. 16-2016 on “Oplan Double Barrel” and its implementing rules in Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2017-112.
In his comment in behalf of three government agencies, Calida said that “Oplan Double Barrel” does not direct the commission of any illegal act.
He pointed out that the “PNP’s function to serve and to protect necessarily encompasses not only responding to crimes already committed but also preventing their commission.” (With a report from Rey G. Panaligan)