CHR cites ‘improved’ PNP antidrug drive

The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the initial observation of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) saying that there was an "improvement" in the government's anti-illegal drugs campaign but it reiterated they cannot assure there would be no more deaths in their future operations.

"We are happy about that comment. We hope that the prevailing situation in that regard will remain," PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said in a press briefing yesterday.

Bulalacao was reacting to CHR spokesperson Jackie de Guia's comments in a television interview.

De Guia said the CHR "couldn't discount the fact that there's an improvement" due to the reduced number of drug suspects who were killed as a result of legitimate police operations.

Bulalacao, however, was quick to add that the PNP cannot guarantee the safety of “paranoid” drug suspects who resist arrest or choose to fight back.

"Just the same, we couldn't assure you there would be no more incidents of deaths during police operations. Because as we always say, [the] subjects of police operations have normally unstable minds," he explained.

"Because of paranoia, they put up a fight against police officers that result in encounter and most of the time, unexpected death of individuals," he added.

According to the latest available data from the PNP, 53 drug suspects have died in police operations across the country from December 5, 2017 to February 8, 2018.

Under the PNP’s Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded, 6,253 drug suspects have been arrested after 4,058 operations were conducted nationwide under the same time frame.

Meanwhile, the PNP has listed 1,573 drug surrenderers in 3,456 operations under Oplan Tokhang (knock and plead) since its relaunch on January 29 to February 8.

The CHR, however, said it is still too early to comment on the results of the Oplan Tokhang because the PNP is still in the early stages of its implementation.