Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police, yesterday backed President Duterte’s plan to suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus, saying it will help a lot in the government campaign against illegal drugs.
“This will be a big help, No. 1, it will make our job easier. No. 1, it will provide enough deterrence to drug violators,” said Dela Rosa.
Dela Rosa allayed that it would be abused once implemented, explaining that there are some measures in order to address possible abuses especially by law enforcement authorities. “Whether or not there is a writ of Habeas Corpus, a policeman can abuse it if he is determined to do so,” said Dela Rosa.
Among these counter-measures, Dela Rosa said, are investigation and disciplinary measures on abusing policemen and Police Operational Procedure (POP) which discusses in detail how a police operation should be carried out.
Chief Supt. Leo Angelo Leuterio, head of the PNP Internal Affairs Service, said the POP includes some protocols that must be observed by operating units. “No police operations shall be conducted without the approval of the chief commander, head of the concerned unit or office,” said Leuterio.
The issue of POP was raised after Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed during the service of a search warrant inside his detention cell at the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City.
It was found out that the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Eastern Visayas committed some lapses in terms of coordination. (Aaron B. Recuenco)