PNP chief launches newly created Drug Enforcement Group today

OPLAN TOKHANG: THE RETURN

The Philippine National Police (PNP) will launch today its newlycreated Drug Enforcement Group (DEG), which replaces the abolished Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG) and prepares to receive orders to restart “Oplan Tokhang” in line with President Duterte’s all-war on illegal drugs.

Director-General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, PNP Chief, will lead the launching of the PNP-DEG at this morning’s flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Dela Rosa is also expected to announce if the President has already given his official order for the PNP to get back into action and lead the anti-drugs war.

It can be recalled that Duterte ordered the PNP’s anti-drugs war halted in the aftermath of the murder of South Korean business executive Jee Ick-joo inside Camp Crame, after the victim was abducted by police at his residence in Angeles City, Pampanga in the guise of a drug raid.

The President also had the AIDG dissolved due to complaints that some of its members were, themselves, involved in the sale of illegal drugs, the protection of drug lords, and the extortion of innocent civilians under the threat of being framed for drug activities.

The PNP-DEG, sources said, will be headed by Senior Superintendent Graciano Mijares who is expected to vacate his post as deputy director for Administration of the Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon).

Mijares, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988.

The launching of the PNP-DEG will come with the announcement of the official hotline number of the anti-drugs unit where people could directly report illegal drugs activities in their respective communities.

But sources said the PNP-DEG’s composition is only up to the level of top-ranking officers as it will still choose policemen who are qualified to be part of the unit.

Mijares, sources said, is expected to create a screening committee that will select policemen who are morally, physically and mentally fit to be part of the PNP-DEG.

It is not immediately clear when the PNP-DEG would start its operation but Dela Rosa is expected to clarify the guidelines in today’s flag-raising ceremony.

Concern over EJK Extrajudicial killings, particularly those connected with a governmentdirected campaign against illegal drugs, continue to be the chief human rights concern in the Philippines, according to a new report issued by the US State Department over the weekend. Based on the 2016 Human Rights Practices report, since July the previous year police and unknown vigilantes have killed more than 6,000 suspected drug dealers and users as the government pursued a policy aimed at eliminating illegal drug activity in the country by the end of the year.

Likewise, the report noted that concerns about police impunity increased significantly as few administrative or criminal charges were filed against PNP officers following the sharp increase in police killings of suspected drug peddlers.

“The PNP came under criticism from domestic and international human rights groups for its role in Operation Double Barrel,” it pointed out.

The report cited that the PNP reported 2,155 suspects killed during police antidrug operations between July 1 and December 26 and approximately 4,000 more allegedly drug-related killings by unknown persons during that period.

Although, President Rodrigo Duterte publicly rejected criticism of the killings and claimed authorities would look into any actions taken outside the rule of law, the report pointed out that the government actually investigated a limited number of reported human rights abuses committed by police authorities.

Gov’t assurance As a response to the US State Department report, Malacañang assured yesterday that the police who are taking advantage of the country’s war against illegal drugs will be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella reiterated the Palace’s earlier stand that the government does not condone such acts and assured appropriate actions will be taken.

“The PHL Government is firmly committed to upholding human rights. Vigilante or extrajudicial killings are unlawful and are therefore not sanctioned. The government condemns such practice,” Abella said in a text message.

“We will arrest, investigate, prosecute and punish the scalawags in uniform, while also pursuing reform in these institutions so that they can more effectively conduct this noble crusade,” he added.

According to Abella, Duterte has already ordered the appropriate law enforcement institutions to take decisive legal steps to ensure accountability.

“The PHL Government will not shirk from its duty to protect the Filipino people, and ensure that they have a secure, peaceful and bountiful future,” he said.

However, Abella appealed that the vigilante killings should not be confused with the government’s war on illegal drugs, which is an urgent and critical domestic matter.

“An emerging narco state impinges on every Filipino citizen’s right to live in peace and should be dealt with firmly, in conformity to the country’s established human rights principles and in accordance with the rule of law,” he said.

“We hope the international community will support us in this effort,” he added.

‘Tokhang 2’

While the police operations which include raid and buy-bust on illegal drugs personalities will be tasked to PNP-DEG, the PNP will be tapping the local police in the resumption of Oplan Tokhang.

Dela Rosa said this is part of the security measures to prevent the repeat of the Jee case wherein cops and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in civilian attire carried out what turned out to be a kidnap-slay operation.

“It will be the local police who would do that job in coordination with the barangay officials means. This means that it will always be the policemen in uniform and barangay officials who would do the ‘Tokhang’,” said dela Rosa.

The Tokhang 2, according to dela Rosa, will focus on encouraging suspected drug addicted persons to avail of free rehabilitation program in government facilities such as that in Nueva Ecija.

“But we will not force them, we will just encourage them that if they really want to change, then they have to go to rehabilitation program,” said Dela Rosa.

Drug lords behind destab plot – Panelo

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said it is possible that drug lords are really financing a destabilization plot against President Duterte.

This came after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday claimed that drug lords are also doing their part to “get rid of” the President and his war on drugs.

“Hindi naman kataka-taka ‘yun. Tandaan mo, ang mga drug lords, kalaban nila si Presidente dahil si Presidente eh binubuwag ang illegal drug industry sa ating bansa (That’s not surprising. Remember, drug lords are the President’s enemy and he’s after the drug industry),” he said over Radyo ng Bayan.

However, Panelo said that whatever the drug lords do, their plan to oust the President will ultimately fail in the end.

“They will use everything in their power to stop the President from this war against drugs. That is expected but I don’t think they will succeed,” he said.

“The President is focused on demolishing, destroying, dismantling the entire drug illegal in this country,” he added. (With reports from Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos and Roy C. Mabasa)