POLICE officers facing challenges due to the previous administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign need not worry as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Sunday vowed stronger support and protection for law enforcers.
Citing PNP data dated July 2016 to June 2022, Marbil said that 1,286 officers were affected in the line of duty — 312 lost their lives and 974 were injured.
At the congressional quad committee hearing on extrajudicial killings, retired police colonel Royina Garma, manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, named ranking police officials involved in Rodrigo Duterte’s drive against illegal drugs.
“Many officers endured not only physical harm but also found themselves entangled in legal and administrative challenges,” Marbil said.
Marbil referred to the 214 officers who faced 352 criminal cases during the period, as he emphasized that while the promise of support was made, many officers continued to face consequences largely on their own.
He said that 195 officers dismissed over the six-year period, and a total of 398 facing dismissal for various reasons. Over 20 of these individuals are currently in detention.
“The numbers remind us that the impact of the anti-drug campaign was deeply felt by our police force as well,” Marbil said, noting that former president Rodrigo Duterte had publicly committed to supporting those enforcing the campaign.
However, he said there is no official record that these commitments were fully realized.
Marbil pointed out that the PNP should not bear sole responsibility for the broader outcomes of the anti-drug campaign, as its officers were equally affected.
“The data show that while civilians were affected, many officers also paid the price in various ways,” he said.
“Our mission is to secure a safer Philippines through effective crime-fighting that respects human rights and dignity. Learning from these experiences, we aim to build a more balanced and humane approach to law enforcement,” he added.
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