The Philippine National Police acting provincial director of Negros Oriental has reiterated that there are no police personnel involved in the so-called extra-judicial killings of suspected illegal drugs personalities in the province.
Sr. Supt. Henry Biñas on Tuesday, however, said that in any organization, there are erring personnel that need to be reprimanded and given the appropriate sanctions.
According to Biñas, a number of his men are being closely monitored and investigated for violations from simple tardiness to more serious allegations like alleged drug use, Biñas added.
Some are also allegedly linked to the illegal drugs trade but the extent of their participation is not ascertained and they are lying low now that they are being closely watched, he said.
No one has been slapped with sanctions yet under his watch, he added.
But, the police director assured that in Negros Oriental, there are no “rogue cops” like the ones who were allegedly involved in the kidnap-for-ransom and killing of a Korean national inside the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The shooting incidents of mostly suspected drug personalities in Negros Oriental are believed to be either carried out by rivals in the illegal drugs trade or even hired guns, he said.
Biñas, a lawyer, assured that he will not allow any misdemeanor by his men to further tarnish the already- tainted image of the police organization.
His statement comes as the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines released Sunday a strongly-worded pastoral letter on deaths related to the illegal drugs trade.
Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes had instructed that the pastoral letter be read during all masses at the different parishes Sunday.
Signed by CBCP President Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan, the pastoral statement criticized the government’s war against illegal drugs, which has resulted in the killings of innocent people.
Sr. Supt. Biñas lamented that the public is quick to judge and criticize the PNP organization because of the errant police personnel but they forget to show appreciation to the good ones who are serving with dedication and commitment to protect the people and fight crimes.
It is always the PNP that is blamed in many instances, even when the mandate belongs to a different government agency, the police official pointed out.
For instance, the anti-illegal drugs operation is specifically the mandate of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration while traffic laws, rules and regulations are of the Land Transportation Office but the PNP instead gets “battered” for failing to act on these crimes and violations.
He challenged the public to file complaints against scalawags in the PNP as there are many offices that would cater to this, such as the PNP Internal Affairs Section, the Ombudsman, and the Commission on Human Rights, among others.
For minor offenses such as tardiness that warrant a minimal sanction of 15-days suspension, the police chief can investigate and make recommendations at his level, Biñas said.
Meanwhile, Sr. Supt. Biñas expressed apprehension that the illegal drugs trade in Negros Oriental will once again flourish with the suspension of the PNP’s planned anti-illegal drugs operations.
Just when the police here had already gained momentum and was “winning the war” against illegal drugs, now they have to just watch in the sidelines as drug pushers and drug users dominate the streets again, he further lamented.
Sr. Supt. Biñas said the police can still make arrests in relation to illegal drugs but only in unplanned operations, such as during checkpoints and in plain view or corollary to other police operations.
The police can no longer conduct raids based on the service of search warrants as well as carry out buy-bust operations. (PNA/JFP)
