The campaign against illegal drugs currently being waged by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso is one proof that the so-called extra-judicial killings (EJKs) constantly attributed to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs are baseless.
(Manila Public Information Office / MANILA BULLETIN)
This was stressed by Secretary to the Mayor Bernie Ang, citing in particular the most recent apprehension of 35 drug suspects in Baseco Compound. All were arrested alive and subsequently presented during a press conference at the City Hall. Before this, several other drug suspects were also arrested and similarly presented to the media.
On all these occasions, Ang said, Mayor Moreno would consistently underscore that the suspects were apprehended alive and that their human rights are being respected in the process of the entire drug operations. In fact, the suspects are even allowed to cover their faces during press conferences.
“These pronouncements and actions of Mayor Moreno are meant to make it known to the critics of the Duterte administration that their accusations of EJKs are baseless and unfounded and only meant to malign President Rodrigo Duterte,” Ang stressed.
From the start of his term as city mayor and even during his first command conference with Manila Police District (MPD) officials, headed by Police Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., Moreno has consistently stated that his administration will fully support President Duterte’s war on drugs and all other pronouncements being made by the Chief Executive which are deemed as government policy.
Moreno has also defended the government’s war on drugs and told the police that while they are duty-bound to exercise human rights at maximum level, they should also protect themselves fully in cases where the drug suspects choose to shoot it out than get arrested.
‘Self-preservation is and must always be the priority of the police. Ayoko sa lahat ‘yung may mga pulis tayong masasawi lalo na sa kamay ng mga drug suspects o pushers na ayaw sumunod sa batas (I don’t want to see policemen killed, especially at the hands of drug suspects who violate the law),” Moreno stressed.