Policemen who commit abuse and other wrongdoings in the revitalized anti-drug operations will not get off the hook easily.
President Duterte has ordered Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa to ensure the filing of charges against corrupt and abusive cops in case they resume the operations against illegal drugs.
“They have to be very careful because I would even say that charges should be filed if they commit a mistake,” the President said in a media interview during his visit to Cebu last Thursday.
Charges must also be filed against policemen who pocket public funds intended for entrapment or buy-bust operations against drug pushers, according to the President.
But for now, the President said he would let Dela Rosa decide on whether or not to revive the PNP’s “Oplan: Tokhang” operations.
“There are so many objections raised during the last, in the past month, na it was highlighted during the kidnapping of the Korean national. I will place it squarely upon the lap of si Bato,” he said.
The President has decided to “call back” selected policemen to the government’s war on illegal drugs amid reports of rise in drug activities on the streets.
Duterte said only patriotic and honest cops would be handpicked to lead anti-drug task forces in every police station in the country. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)