Malacañang yesterday asked the public to let President Duterte decide on matters involving the Philippine National Police anti-illegal drug campaign “Oplan: Tokhang.”
This came following the first petition against Oplan Tokhang before the Supreme Court on Thursday on behalf of the families of four drug suspects killed in Payatas, Quezon City last August 2016.
Center for International Law is asking the SC to issue a Writ of Amparo and suspend Oplan Tokhang in areas covered by the Quezon City Police District Station 6 after four policemen allegedly faked reports and death certificates to make it appear that the incident happened in a barangay covered by the police station.
CenterLaw added that the policemen in question are still roaming free.
According to presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, Duterte is deciding matters regarding the Oplan Tokhang.
“We’re hearing what the legislative is saying. However, let’s leave it to the President to decide regarding these matters. It comes directly under his office but we can see that the President is doing what he can,” Abella said over Radyo ng Bayan.
Abella said the public should remember that since Duterte assumed office, his platform was to bring cleansing in terms of corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality.
“We still have to determine everything. But the way we perceive it, the President is really pursuing a parallel track agenda,” he added.
He also reiterated the Palace’s earlier statement that the recent scandals surrounding the police, including the kidnap-slay of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, is a result of the deeply-rooted corruption in government institutions. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)