Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 28) — Some policemen were reportedly pressured to violate protocol in conducting anti-illegal drug operations because of an alleged “quota system” in the Philippine National Police (PNP), a retired police officer turned lawmaker revealed Thursday.
1-Rider party-list Rep. Bonifacio Bosita claimed there was a requirement for police officers, especially ranking cops, to conduct a minimum of drug busts per week.
He shared his experience as a former police official during the House Committee on Public Order and Safety hearing on the alleged illegal drug busts recently conducted by policemen from Calabarzon.
It appears Bosita was speaking about his experience during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte, although he did not clarify what period he was referring to and when the supposed drug quota system started.
The International Criminal Court has reopened its investigation into the thousands of drug war killings under Duterte’s administration.
“Every Monday sinisingil kami. Parang kapag ikaw ay chief of police at hindi mo na-meet yung quota, parang ang ramdam mo, any time mare-relieve ka na,” Bosita said.
[Translation: Every Monday, we were being asked. It’s like when you’re chief of police and you don’t meet the quota, you feel like you’ll be relieved at any time.]
“Isa sa hinahanap sa aming accomplishments–di ko lang alam ngayon–yung accomplishments ng nasa watch list. So siyempre opisyal tayo, may pride, may mga kasama tayo diyan, eh napapahiya ka dahil parang ang dating napakahina mong opisyal,” he said.
[Translation: One of the things they were looking for in our accomplishments–I just don’t know if its still happening now–is those on the watch list. So, of course, we are officers, we have pride, we have comrades there, you would feel embarrassed because it seems like you are a very weak officer.]
While Bosita did not say how long the alleged quota system has been in place, he mentioned that during the time of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa as PNP chief, there was a program for drug suspects to surrender and attend a seminar conducted by religious leaders. Dela Rosa was PNP chief from 2016 to 2018.
As an active police officer, Bosita said he reached out to the families of 20 out of 21 drug personalities in the station he was assigned to and appealed to them to convince the suspects to surrender. This, he added, led to his relief a few months later.
He said he was later told by a higher-ranking official that he was let go because he allowed those in the watchlist to surrender only.
Bosita, who was once part of the PNP Highway Patrol Group, also served as chief of the municipal police station in Rosario, Cavite in 2018.
A house resolution was filed by Rep. Romeo Acop, a former police officer, to launch a probe into supposed recent abductions by authorities.
Acop said the relatives of those detained claimed they were not actually arrested “but abducted.”
Santa Rosa Lone District Rep. Dan Fernandez, who chairs the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, on Thursday floated the possibility of illegal buy-bust operations “proliferating” across the country.
READ: Illegal buy-bust operations ‘most likely’ happening across PH – solon
