Silang, Cavite (CNN Philippines) — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Tuesday said the police are preparing to resume their war against drugs.
Dela Rosa said that when the campaign resumes with the police at the helm, the drug suspects will not see it coming.
“Maghintay lang sila, mabubulaga din sila, hintay lang,” he said.
[Translation: They just wait. They will be surprised. Just wait.]
Dela Rosa said the PNP is forming a new anti-illegal drugs group. He also vouched for the integrity of the officials who will carry-out the anti-illegal drug operations.
“Basta lahat ng mainvolve ay piling-pili at hindi lang kung sinu-sino para maiwasan talaga ang abuso. Kaya klaruhin natin na ang mainvolve ay clean slate lahat ng drug operatives,” he said.
[Translation: All of those involved will be chosen carefully to avoid abusive officials. We are clarifying that all the drug operatives involved will have a clean slate.]
He refused to elaborate further on when the PNP will resume their anti-illegal drugs operations known as “Oplan Tokhang” and “Project Double Barrel.” But Dela Rosa said he was told by President Rodrigo Duterte to be prepared: “Just be ready. Ready, get set, go,” said the police chief.
On Monday, Dela Rosa ordered police commanders to strictly implement a directive to rid their units of police officers found to be involved in crimes and illegal activities.
On January 30, Duterte suspended his seven-month old drug war, stripped the PNP’s power to carry-out anti-illegal drugs operations, and ordered them to cleanse their ranks of corrupt and abusive policemen. This, following the alleged involvement of some police officers in the kidnap-slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo inside Camp Crame.
As a result, the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group and other anti-illegal drugs units of the PNP were dismantled. Dela Rosa offered to resign from his post over the businessman’s death, which alarmed the Korean community in the country, but this was rejected by the President.
On Monday, the President said there is a 20 percent increase in illegal drugs activities on the streets after the anti-drugs campaigns were put on hold. Duterte added he is leaving it up to the PNP to proceed with Oplan Tokhang and Project Double Barrel.
During the anti-drug campaigns, 2,538 drug suspects were killed and 52,521 people were arrested during legitimate police operations. More than 4,000 deaths were recorded due to alleged vigilante-style killings.
The PNP’s anti-drug operations came under fire after human rights group Amnesty International claimed that police officers were paid as much as as much as ?15,000 per drug suspects killed.
