Albayalde can’t promise less bloody drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director Oscar Albayalde said there is no guarantee the war on drugs will be less bloody when he takes over leadership of the 190,000-strong PNP.

Albayalde told reporters yesterday in a video conference that there are going to be casualties so long as drug suspects  put up a fight in police operations.

“We cannot guarantee there will be no blood in our campaign against illegal drugs,” said Albayalde, who is also the current chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said 4,075 drug suspects were killed in armed encounters during law enforcement operations since President Duterte launched his anti-drugs campaign in July 2016.

Albayalde said he would continue implementing the programs of PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa in addressing the country’s drug problem.

Dela Rosa said he recommended Albayalde as his successor so the government could have continuity in the war on drugs and the internal cleansing program in the PNP.

“Continue the fight,” Dela Rosa told Albayalde, his classmate in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986.

To ensure transparency, Albayalde said they would cooperate in the investigations of their police operations with other government agencies, including the Commission on Human Rights.

He stressed that he will never tolerate police officers who commit irregularities in anti-drug operations.

As an example of his zero-tolerance for abuses, Albayalde said he relieved the entire police force of Caloocan City that included 1,100 police officers, following reports of abuses and irregularities.

He also vowed to comply with the order of the Supreme Court (SC) to submit documents on deaths linked to the war on drugs.

“That is the order of the SC so we have to comply,” he said.

The CHR hailed yesterday the SC order to the police to release the documents on the bloody war on illegal drugs.

“We welcome and support the decision of the Supreme Court ordering the Philippine National Police to submit data on the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs. It is a step forward in ensuring that the rule of law still prevails in our country,” the CHR said in a statement it issued yesterday.

The CHR had previously attempted to secure the official reports on cases involving drug suspects killed during police buy-bust operations.  

As the incumbent NCRPO director, Albayalde said he would submit all documents of deaths in drug-related police operations in Metro Manila.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao earlier said they would consult first with the Office of the Solicitor General on the issue.

Despite allegations of irregularities, Albayalde insisted that the anti-drug campaign has been successful.

He cited Oplan Tokhang that had also resulted in the surrender of 1.3 million drug pushers and users.

“We will continue with Oplan Tokhang because of the good results,” he said.

Tokhang, which means knock and plead in Cebuano, is an activity where police officers knock on the doors of drug suspects and convince them to reform.

Undersecretary Eduardo Año, officer-in-charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said Albayalde is the right man to succeed Dela Rosa.

“He is a professional and capable police officer who can steer and lead Team PNP in its multifarious missions. He has also my trust and confidence,” he said in a statement.

Año lauded Albayalde for the security measures he put in place during the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit last year.

“Given his performance during the ASEAN Summit, there is no doubt that he can successfully lead the entire PNP in the all-out campaign against drugs, criminality and corruption,” said Año.

According to Albayalde, Duterte also directed him to impose strict discipline among the PNP and intensify the weeding out of so-called scalawags and misfits.

Albayalde plans to conduct surprise inspections to catch policemen who are sleeping or drinking liquor on the job.

If his schedule would be hectic, Albayalde instructed police commanders to conduct inspections in their respective areas.

“They (commanders) will be made responsible for the deeds or misdeeds, actions or missactions of all their subordinates,” Albayalde warned.

As NCRPO chief, Albayalde has caught several police officers either sleeping or drinking while on the night shift at police stations in Metro Manila.

Albayalde said he would bring to the PNP some of his pet programs in the NCRPO, including the campaign against the so-called “15-30” police officers who report only during the 15th and end of month to collect their salary and other benefits.

The President also asked him to spearhead the construction of bigger jails all over the country as a majority of detention centers are overcrowded, thus causing various illnesses among inmates.

‘US sinking fast’

Meanwhile, President Duterte lambasted the US anew yesterday, saying the superpower, which has raised concerns over his war on illegal drugs, is “sinking very fast.” 

Duterte repeated his litany of rants against the US, including its atrocities against Filipinos during the Philippine-American War and its supposed attempt to impose its values on other nations.  

He then mentioned the migration of different nationals to the US “because it’s a nation which provides a wide door of migration.” 

“So that’s why America is diving very fast… I’m not trying to criticize America. I’m just telling you, you are sinking very fast,” the President said.

The President claimed that the previous atrocities of the US, including the invasion of Iraq, have created Islamist extremism that threaten its security. 

“You think it can be erased by the number of years? You think the Muslims will forgive you for so many massacres? That’s the reason (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is there,” Duterte said.  

“You destroyed a country. You undermined Libya. So what’s Libya now? A fractured country. So there’s turmoil in Syria. It’s your fault. You went inside Africa, Middle East many years ago. You siphoned all their oil so you rose into the ladder of industrialization, way ahead of the rest of the natives of the world,” he added.

Duterte went on to discuss the US’s tirades against his war on illegal drugs, a centerpiece program of his administration. The US under former president Barack Obama expressed concerns over the spate of deaths tied to the campaign. 

“America, I tell you, you are loudmouths. But someday, remember this, one day, to your horror, your problem is one hundred times more serious than what we have. It came to pass. That’s Obama,” the President said. 

“Now (US President Donald) Trump, he’s declaring a national emergency,” he added, referring to the US opioid crisis. 

Duterte said Trump is now mimicking his campaign on illegal drugs.

“So, Americans, what values are you trying to impose on us? The value of Obama? The value of Trump? Or your own national stupidity?” he said. 

Duterte reiterated that he is bent on pursuing his brutal campaign despite criticisms from human rights groups here and abroad. 

“I’m telling you frankly, it will not stop until the last day of my term if I get to live at that time,” the President said. 

“If I renege now, I would have placed in jeopardy this generation and our grandchildren. Look at America.” – Non Alquitran, Alexis Romero, Rainier Allan Ronda