NCRPO to drug users, pushers: 'Don’t fight back'

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office would see to it that there would be no more killings if drug users and pushers refrain from engaging police in shootouts, newly installed NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said yesterday.

“Those involved in illegal drugs should stop their illegal activities right now as we would spare no one in our intensified drive against illegal drugs,” Eleazar said in an interview.

“While we are against killing drug pushers and users, we appeal to them not to resist during our anti-drug operations because we have no recourse or be forced to engaged them once they do so,” he added.

Eleazar, who assumed command of the NCRPO yesterday, directed his five district directors and 38 station commanders to fully abide by the rules and regulations of the Commission on Human Rights while performing their duties against illegal drugs.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Internal Affairs Service said over the weekend that it is investigating the deaths of at least 4,000 Filipinos who allegedly shot it out during anti-drug operations from July 2016 to April 2018.

Cleansing ranks

Eleazar said he will continue implementing the programs and projects of PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde, particularly ridding the NCRPO of scalawags.

“We cannot perform our mandate, especially in the war against illegal drugs, if our personnel are also drug users or they themselves are involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs,” he added.