Only select few from AFP to join drug war, Duterte says
February 1, 2017 | 11:14pm
In this Jan. 20, 2017 photo, riot police retreat to allow protesters to get closer to the US Embassy to protest the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 1, said the Philippine National Police has “lost its power” to enforce laws on illegal drugs, which he said some cops to commit wrongdoings. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
MANILA, Philippines — Only a “select few” from the military would be involved in the anti-drug war, President Rodrigo Duterte said, as he criticized some policemen for supposedly using the narcotics crackdown to commit abuses.
Duterte said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has “lost its power” to enforce laws on illegal drugs and the only ones who can conduct such operations are Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives.
“They (PNP) have lost the power to enforce drug laws. Marami naimbentong kalokohan talaga pulis (These policemen have invented a lot of shenanigans),” the president said during the traditional dinner with Sergeant Majors in Malacañan.
“It’s only the Armed Forces selected few and the PDEA can operate now against drugs para walang — wala ng kalokohan (so there will be no more shenanigans),” he added.
Duterte also lambasted some policemen who are involved in “pangikil” or extortion.
“Yawa, nabwisit ako (Devils, I got pissed off). Wala silang power. (They do not have power).”
On Tuesday, Duterte directed the military to arrest policemen involved in illegal drugs as he purges the PNP of scalawags.
Duterte admitted that his anti-drug campaign can be used by some policemen to commit wrongdoings.
“Let me reorganize the enforcement diyan sa drugs sa police (of laws against drugs by the police). In the meantime, they would be arrested and I will order you to arrest them,” he said during the oath taking of newly promoted generals in Malacañan.
PNP has suspended its anti-drug operations or Oplan Tokhang amid the fallout over the death of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo in the hands of members of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG).
PNP chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa admitted that the murder of Jee has affected the credibility of Oplan Tokhang, which critics claimed was used to extort money.
Jee was kidnapped by AIDG personnel in Angeles, Pampanga on Oct. 18, 2016 and was said to have been strangled to death inside Camp Crame.
The kidnappers reportedly made it appear that the businessman was still alive and demanded P5 million ransom from his wife.
The incident prompted Duterte to order the abolition of all anti-drug units of the PNP. He also admitted that the culture of corruption among the police is “matindi” or serious.
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