JUST the mere pronouncement of reviving the dreaded Philippine Constabulary (PC) to replace the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its anti-illegal drugs operations sends shivers to our already martial law-weary spines.
The PC raided our houses, abducted our loved ones, detained and tortured us. It carried out the most brutal measures to suppress those who fought the Marcos dictatorship.
This criminal military unit is the perpetrator of the ugliest and gross human rights violations against the people. They style themselves as untouchables and are answerable only to former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Until now, no officers of the PC were made accountable for their crimes against humanity. Why bring this monster back to life?
Reviving the crime-laden PC is actually a militarization of the civilian-run police force, that is already wracked by corruption and records of involvement in organized criminal activities like kidnap for ransom, contract-killing, extortion, case fixing and planting of evidence, and drug traffcking.
The Philippine Constabulary is a monstrous organization that has been the scourge of the Filipino people during the martial law years. It will not solve the rampant criminal activities within the PNP that is rotten to the core. Neither will it solve the drug problem of the country. It is just like transferring the criminal functions from an already exposed and hated one to another defunct criminal organization that is less remembered by the current generation.
If the government of President Rodrigo Duterte is serious and sincere in addressing the problem in the PNP, it should decisively weed out the rotten eggs inside the police force and make sure they stay out of the organization permanently.
Prosecute and punish the lawbreakers among the law enforcers in the PNP. That is the most effective and quickest way to address the problem. The Filipino people know how large the problem inside the PNP is, including the rampant corruption and their involvement in criminal activities. They are the main perpetrators of human rights violations.
The problem is systemic. The long and lasting solution lies in the comprehensive reorientation and reorganization of the police force into a pro-people, justice and service oriented, and human rights respecting organization.--Marie Hilao-Enriquez, chairperson, Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda)