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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – Should the Philippine National Police (PNP) take the lead again in the government’s antidrug campaign?
President Rodrigo Duterte announced he would order such because he is not satisfied with the performance of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
According to Sen. Grace Poe, however, PDEA is legally mandated to be the country’s primary agency in the antidrug campaign so it should “retain leadership” in the task.
But Poe said the police force could help reinforce PDEA’s manpower.
PNP’s negative reputation in the drug war and questions on its ability to uphold the rule of law and respect basic rights makes it difficult to gain public trust, she added.
“With PDEA remaining on top of the operations and with PNP as main support, the government will be able to help rectify the manner or conduct of such operations. This is also consistent with the President’s desire to pursue a more vigorous antidrug campaign,” Poe said.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, said the PNP should lead the campaign against illegal drugs together with PDEA.
“If supervised by PDEA, I believe it will be more effective and more in line with the intentions of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) that I principally authored,” said Sotto.
Sen. Ralph Recto said giving PNP full power to lead antidrugs operations was “the prerogative of the President.”
He hoped the police had “learned from its mistakes,” said Recto.
The PNP has also been urged to “be more careful and protect rights of suspects.”
Sen. JV Ejercito said the police’s return to the drug war “is not a license for them to go on a killing spree and/or wanton violation of human rights.”
“The trust and confidence of the President on our lawmen does not imply absolution of their mistakes, intentional or accidental, in the past that led to deaths of innocent civilians,” Ejercito said.
The senator also reminded the police to observe the law in addressing the drug problem.
“I still believe that the PNP is an organization of upright men who value, respect, preserve and promote human rights and dignity,” he added./PN
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