The commitment made by the past administration to take care of policemen who were charged in relation to the drug war did not materialize as hundreds of policemen were left on their own in facing legal battles, the Philippine National Police (PNP) disclosed on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Citing their data, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said a total of 214 policemen are still facing criminal and administrative charges from the operations carried out from July 2016 to June 2022.
"Many officers endured not only physical harm but also found themselves entangled in legal and administrative challenges. While the promise of support was made, many officers continued to face consequences largely on their own,” said Marbil.
The drug war was launched in July 2016 and policemen were buoyed by the commitment that they will be fully supported by the government in carrying out the operations.
But Marbil said there is no official record that these commitments were fully realized.
In fact, he said195 officers were dismissed over the six-year period, and a total of 398 facing dismissal for various reasons.
Over 20 of these individuals, according to Marbil, are currently languishing in jail.
"The numbers remind us that the impact of the anti-drug campaign was deeply felt by our police force as well," said Marbil.
Such numbers, according to Marbil, include 312 who lost their lives in the conduct of operations and 974 who were injured.
He said 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.
Marbil then committed that it will no longer happen as he vowed to extend assistance to policemen who are facing harassment cases in relation to the aggressive campaign against illegal drugs for as long as they stick to the police operational procedures.
The PNP has shifted its policy on the campaign against illegal drugs by stressing on less bloody drug war and targeting those in the supply level.
“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,” said Marbil.