PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa on Monday, January 29, repeated his promise of a "less bloody" anti-drugs operations, but said ensuring a totally bloodless campaign is impossible.
“Alam mo naman yang dugo na yan that's dependent sa reaction ng mga drug personalities. Alangan naman pabayaan namin sarili namin na mamatay kami kung armado at makipagbarilan yung drug personality so kung pwede natin susian ‘yung mga utak ng mga drug personalities na please huwag sana kayao maging violent, huwag kayong lumaban para walang dugo na dumanak sa ating anti-drug operations, mas maganda sana pero very volatile ang situation sa ground,” he said.
(It depends on how the drug personalities react. We cannot just allow ourselves to be killed. What if the drug personality is armed and engages us? If possible, we would like to condition the minds of drug personalities to not resort to violence. Do not resist so that blood will not be spilled. That would be ideal. But the situation on the ground is volatile.)
"We also have to protect ourselves, preserve our own life and life of the stranger that's why I cannot give you 100 percent or fool proof anti-drug campaign na magiging bloodless,” he added.
Dela Rosa made the statement amid the appeal of Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles for the PNP to ensure that they will no longer waste lives as they resume the conduct of their anti-illegal drugs operations particularly the Oplan Tokhang.
"We pray that the police follow the prescribed steps in implementing the law… steps that should be done in exercising their responsibility as policemen," Valles said in a statement.
"Let us inspire them to follow the necessary steps when they need to apprehend and as much as possible, we make sure that we do not waste any lives," he added.
Dela Rosa said no matter how hard they try to make the drug war bloodless, they still cannot control the reaction of the drug suspects.
“Basta kami we are just giving you the assurance na lahat ay gagawin namin talaga na maging less bloody itong ating anti-drug campaign because we are not dealing with tao na nasa tamang pag iisip,” he said.
With more specific guidelines, the PNP resumed its Oplan Tokhang, or the visitation of drug personalities to urge them to stop their illegal drugs habit, on Monday.
Under the new guidelines, Tokhang operations would be conducted only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during weekdays. The guidelines also specify that the rule of law should always prevail and respect for human rights shall be strictly observed at all times.
Tokhangers, or the policemen that make up the teams of four which conduct the visitations, are not allowed to enter the drug personality’s house unless they are invited into the house.
Dela Rosa said the supplemental operational guidelines aim to shed light on the constitutionality of their operations.
“Ang bago doon is in relation sa petition sa Supreme Court ‘yung sinasabi nila na vina-violate natin ang human rights ng tao kasi ang alam nila pumasok sa bahay as alleged by the petitioners na pumapasok sa bahay ‘yung mga tokhangers,” he said.
“Right now emphasize talaga natin na hindi sila papasok sa bahay, hanggang pintuan lang sila. Kakatakot at request nila kung nandun ‘yung tao sa loob kung pwede lumabas at kausapin po namin. Kasama ng pulis ‘yung barangay officials, media, pari na kasama doon sa team ng tokhang operators,” he added.
Over 3,000 drug personalities have been killed since the PNP spearheaded the government’s war on drugs. In most cases, police claimed that the suspects tried to engage the authorities in a firefight, or "nanlaban" in Filipino.
Dela Rosa, however, expressed optimism that police interdiction operations against illegal drugs will be carried out with greater efficiency and with less violent confrontations between law enforcers and offenders with the use of better equipment to ensure the personal safety of our personnel, such as body armor, body camera, communications and fire suppression, complemented by skills training and enhanced capacity. (SunStar Philippines)