PNP: Duterte drug war affected 1,286 cops

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police personnel affected by the Duterte administration’s war on drugs need support and protection, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said yesterday.

Citing official PNP data, Marbil said 1,286 officers were affected during anti-narcotics operations from July 2016 to June 2022. Of the figure, 312 were killed while 974 were injured.

“Several police officers endured not only physical harm, but also found themselves entangled in legal and administrative challenges,” Marbil said.

He said 214 PNP personnel faced 352 criminal cases related to their work during the six-year campaign against illegal drugs.

As for administrative cases, Marbil said 195 officers were sacked and 398 are facing possible dismissal from the police service.

Over 20 police officers remain in detention as part of cases related to the drug war’s enforcement.

“The numbers remind us that the impact of the anti-drug campaign was deeply felt by our police as well,” Marbil said. 

While former president Rodrigo Duterte has committed to supporting officers involved in the drug war, Marbil said there is no official record confirming that this commitment has been fully realized.

The PNP should not shoulder responsibility for the drug war’s outcomes, Marbil said.

“Learning from these experiences, we aim to build a more balanced and humane approach to law enforcement,” he said.