Pangilinan calls for end to ‘Oplan Double Barrel’

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Wednesday condemned the continued killings under the war on drugs and called for an end to the Philippine National Police’s “Oplan Double Barrel.”

Pangilinan issued the statement after 14-year-old Reynaldo De Guzman’s body was found in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. De Guzman was last seen with Carl Angelo Arnaiz, the 19-year-old who was killed in a supposed shootout with Caloocan City police on August 18. Police said Arnaiz robbed a taxi driver.

De Guzman's body had 30 stab wounds.

“Habang ang 14 anyos ay pinapatay, pinapalusot naman ang tone-toneladang shabu sa Customs. Tanging pag-anunsyo lamang ng pangulo na itigil ang war on drugs ang siyang makatitigil sa patayan ng mga inosente at sa pang-aabuso at pagiging mamamatay tao ng mga tiwaling PNP,” Pangilinan said.

“Itigil ang Oplan Double Barrel,” he added.

The Philippine National Police briefly suspended anti-drug operations in January after Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo was found to have been kidnapped by rogue police officers and killed in Camp Crame. the national police headquarters in Quezon City.

'Killing not a solution'

For Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party and a member of the Senate minority bloc, the current war on drugs is twisted.

“Lumilitaw na ang tunay na anyo ng giyerang ito,” the senator said, adding that killing is not a solution to end the illegal drugs.

Pangilinan also called on PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa to find those behind De Guzman's death and hold them accountable. He also called on the police chief to fulfill the PNP's mandate to serve and protect.

“Labing-apat na taong gulang lang siya. Kabilang siya sa padami nang padaming bilang ng mga batang lalaking pinapatay. Mahigit 30 kabataan na ang nabibilang sa tinatawag na collateral damage. Tao sila. Mga bata. At krimen yun,” Pangilinan said.

“Hanapin ang maysala at papanagutin. Hindi luha ang sukatan ng malasakit sa kapwa o sa paggampan sa trabaho.Marami kaming mga magulang na nababahala sa paglaganap ng krimeng pagpatay,” he added.

“Umaksyon naman kayo,” the senator continued.

Lawmakers condemn killing of De Guzman

Like Pangilinan, Sen. Grace Poe and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano condemned De Guzman's murder.

Poe said the 14-year-old’s death is unacceptable.

“Kasumpa-sumpa na ang labing-apat na taong gulang na si Reynaldo de Guzman ay natagpuang tadtad ng saksak sa Gapan, Nueva Ecija. Huwag naman sanang paikutin ang ulo natin na holdaper rin ang batang ito gaya ng pinalulutang na kuwento tungkol sa kanyang kasamang si Carl Angelo Arnaiz,” Poe said.

“Namumuhi tayo na dalawang batang punung-puno ng pag-asa ang pinatay sa marahas na paraan. Dapat gamitin ang buong puwersa ng sistema ng hustisya ng ating bansa para durugin ang mga salarin sa karumal-dumal na krimeng ito at matigil na ang walang habas na pagkitil ng buhay lalo na ng mga kabataan,” she added.

Alejano on the other hand said on his Twitter account that the public and public servants should stand up against injustice killings.

“Are we just going to include their names in the count of growing number of victims? Tumindig, magsalita, at labanan ang patayan,” Alejano said.

“When is enough? The moment we recognize that something is wrong. Let us not tolerate it as it will destroy our very core and identity,” he added.

In an apparent reference to the president,  Alejano also said the war on drugs is a “greatest form of hypocrisy.”

“Greatest form of hypocrisy: killing your citizen while being friends with the source of drugs,” Alejano said on his Twitter account.