US cautiously optimistic on Philippine drug war
MANILA — The United States will maintain its support to the Philippines' campaign against the illegal drug campaign as long as it is carried under the rule of law.
James Walsh, deputy assistant director of the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said that Washington will monitor the country's anti-narcotics campaign.
"I would describe the United States being cautiously optimistic when it comes to the appropriate way for a drug campaign," Walsh said in a telephone press briefing.
Walsh added that the US will continue to support the Philippine government's drug demand reduction program, as well as their maritime assistance to the country.
Washington, however, had reduced its assistance to the Philippine National Police due to human rights violations.
"I met with Chief (Ronald) Dela Rosa over a year ago when the campaign was starting and reminded him the United States has certain human rights aspects in our laws which will restrict our assistance from supporting police," Walsh said.
Since the conversation between Walsh and Dela Rosa, the US had reduced its support to the Philippine police.
During the start of President Rodrigo Duterte's term in July 2016, the US vowed to provide $32 million to support the Philippines' intensified law enforcement efforts.
In November 2016, the American government had shifted its assistance away from law enforcement since the start of the Duterte administration's war on drugs.
US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby said that their law enforcement assistance has been shifted to maritime security efforts.
"Since the start of the drug campaign, our law enforcement assistance has been refocused away from narcotics control to supporting maritime security efforts and to providing human rights training to the Philippine National Police," Kirby said.
Following the shift of assistance, the US maintained that it remains deeply concerned by reports of state-sanctioned killings in the Philippines.
Earlier this week, the PNP relaunched Oplan Tokhang, where the police knock at doors of suspected drug personalities.
According to Dela Rosa, the police has not encountered any problem in the implementation of the operation.
"On the first day of our resumption of our Oplan Tokhang, many yielded… But so far I would like to report to you, so far so good. We did not encounter any problem on the reimplementation," Dela Rosa said.