More doubters
In the latest SWS survey, more Filipinos do not believe police accounts that suspects involved in illegal drugs fought back and thus were forced to kill them. The number of doubters increased to 37 percent. Not only that, the percentage of those who believe police accounts decreased to 17 percent. This is clearly an indication that many are now doubting the police. This is the perception that the PNP must address, if it cares to.
The PNP is no longer leading anti-drug operations. That task has been given to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), whom nobody in government, including President Duterte who gave them the job, seems to be confident in. For the short time the PNP took the lead, thousands of suspects were killed, most of whom, as the survey pointed out, were not believed to have fought back or violently resisted arrest. The high-profile killings of Kian Delos Santos and Carl Angelo Arnaiz have stirred the consciousness of many into believing that extrajudicial killings, or even state-sponsored killings, do exist in the administration's campaign against illegal drugs.
In the case of Carl Angelo Arnaiz, the statements of Tomas Bagcal, the driver allegedly robbed at gunpoint by Arnaiz, are still being treated with skepticism. It was learned that Arnaiz received money from his mother who worked overseas, apart from income from a store that he ran. He therefore had no reason to be involved in crime. The suspicion is that Bagcal was indeed involved in the crime, and is now spewing out stories to save himself after evidence and witnesses offered a different take on what happened.
These cases are obviously being delayed. The accused seem to be taking their time in defending themselves. With the amount of evidence stacked against them, these cases should have progressed. I would not be surprised if unseen hands are already helping them. Other criminal cases where police officers were involved also seem to be going nowhere. What happened to the murder cases of Jee Ick Joo and Zenaida Luz? More than a year has passed since then. In the murder of Luz, the police suspects have already been granted bail, as the evidence against them has been deemed weak. I can actually expect them to be cleared of the crime, and see them returning to active duty, with promotions as well. The wife of Jee Ick Joo is still waiting for justice for the brutal killing of her husband. With developments like this, we can expect survey results on the PNP to only get worse.