Director General Ronald dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police, said yesterday that they will not be cowed by what he described as legal harassments in the campaign against illegal drugs amid the mounting deaths of pushers and users in the past few weeks.
“The momentum is on our side. Thousands have already surrendered and a lot of (illegal drugs personalities) were already killed. We cannot afford to lose this momentum,” said Dela Rosa. “So I am openly encouraging our people:
Sulong mga kapatid!” he added.
Dela Rosa reminded the 170,000-strong PNP of the declaration of President Duterte that he will back them until the end for as long as they continue do their job.
To manifest a show of legal force for the PNP, Dela Rosa has invited Solicitor General Jose Calida, who, in turn, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to defend policemen from legal harassments.
“Why I am here? I am here to indicate the support of the Duterte administration for the anti-drug campaign. The Office of the Solicitor General is the defender of the Republic and the people of the Philippines,” Calida told policemen in a speech.
“The people of the Philippines have had enough of the drug menace that is corrupting and destroying our youth and society,” he added.
Calida then vowed to ensure that policemen who were tasked to conduct anti-illegal drugs campaign will not be intimidated by any harassment to derail the war against illegal drugs.
The official is referring to the Senate investigation being sought by Sen. Leila M. de Lima regarding the killings of illegal drugs personalities across the country that has reached more than 100 since May 10. (Aaron B. Recuenco)