By AARON B. RECUENCO
The Philippine National Police (PNP) will be intensifying its police visibility in crime-prone areas and other places where illegal drugs trade is rampant as part of its contribution on the war on drugs which was already turned over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
But Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesman, said they would not initiate anti-illegal drugs operations as they are aware of the President Duterte’s directive to have the PDEA the main force in conducting running after drugs personalities.
“We will continue to comply with the directive of the President. Police visibility will be intensified as deterrent to drugs activities in the community,” said Carlos.
Aside from police visibility, Carlos said they will also help in providing intelligence information to the PDEA about suspected illegal drugs personalities.
“We will support the PDEA with intelligence-gathering or information-gathering and forward all drug investigations and records to the PDEA,” said Carlos.
The PNP was taken out of the war on drugs due to the controversies involving alleged human rights abuses and alleged-extra-judicial killings, what with the death of minors in Caloocan City.
This resulted in the negative public perception on illegal drugs that eventually dragged down the net satisfaction rating of the President.
With the PNP out of the war on drugs, Carlos said they will now be focusing on the investigation on all the unresolved deaths which numbers to more than 9,000.