Only AFP, PDEA can conduct anti-drug operations

MANILA, Philippines -  Only a select few from the military would be involved in the anti-drug war, President Duterte stressed yesterday, as he criticized some policemen for 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 members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

“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 Malacañang.

“It’s only the Armed Forces’ selected few and the PDEA that can operate now against drugs para wala nang kalokohan (so there will be no more shenanigans),” he added.

Duterte also lambasted some policemen who were involved in “pangingikil” or extortion.

“Yawa, nabwisit ako (Devils, I got pissed off). Wala silang power. (They do not have the power),” he said.

Last Tuesday, Duterte directed the military to arrest cops involved in illegal drugs, as the PNP purge of scalawags got underway.

Duterte admitted his anti-drug campaign could be used by some cops for illegal activities.

“Let me reorganize the enforcement diyan sa (on) drugs sa (in 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 Malacañang. 

The 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 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 the culture of corruption among the police is “matindi” or serious. 

Awaiting orders

The Department of National Defense (DND) will wait for a clearer, detailed and written order from Duterte before it acts on the President’s order for it to help in the government’s anti-drugs war.

DND Public Affairs Service chief Arsenio Andolong said yesterday Malacañang also needs to issue a similar written directive instructing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to help cleanse the PNP of rogue policemen.    

“President Duterte has ordered the AFP to support the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the war against illegal drugs,” Andolong noted. “The DND has requested the Office of the Executive Secretary to issue an official order regarding this presidential directive to serve as a legal basis for our troops to follow.

“By the same token, the President’s verbal directive to arrest ‘scalawag cops’ should also be covered by a formal order,” he added.

In a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Andolong explained that in the DND and the AFP, everything is run on paper.

“We have to have our orders, so that we will have something to stand on,” he said, noting that the military needs details and other information to determine the extent of its participation, considering that the AFP has no mandate to effect arrests.

Andolong said the military has always been supporting the operations of law enforcement agencies, but only as a support unit because it is the police that serves warrants and effects arrests. 

– With  Michael Punongbayan,  Cecille Suerte Felipe