PNP: No policy of killing in drug war

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar yesterday assured the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that the PNP does not have a policy of killing in the government’s war on illegal drugs.

“I would like to reiterate and assure the CHR that it is not and has never been the policy of the PNP to kill in its anti-illegal drug operations,” he said in a statement.

Eleazar gave the assurance after the CHR said killings related to the anti-drug campaign persist even after four years since Kian Loyd delos Santos was shot dead by policemen in Caloocan City.

Delos Santos was killed in August 2017 in what policemen claimed was a legitimate operation. However, surveillance camera footage and testimonies from witnesses revealed the teenager was summarily executed.

Eleazar pointed out that the policemen involved in Delos Santos’ murder have been convicted by a court.

The PNP will also coordinate with the Department of Justice to discuss the DOJ’s findings on its review of 52 drug war cases that resulted in deaths of drug suspects, according to Eleazar.

Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra said the DOJ has completed its review of the case files received from the PNP last June.

Eleazar gave assurance that the PNP is always open and ready to submit itself to an investigation.

“The PNP does not hide anything and we are ready to hold police officers accountable should they be proven to have abused their authority or committed an offense,” he said.