Representatives from PDEA and PNP answer questions on a press conference
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) support the statement of Malacañang about the possibility that human rights organizations are being used by drug lords to undermine the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.
The allegation, they said, is plausible enough to warrant a probe into said organizations by PDEA and PNP.
“Of course that is subject to further investigation by all law enforcement agencies. But seeing the trend of how they attack the anti-drug campaign, I guess we can only surmise that it might be unwitting to the human rights groups,” PDEA Spokesperson, Dir. Derrick Arnold Carreon said.
This was echoed by PNP spokesperson, P/CSupt. John Bulalacao.
“Kami naman ay patuloy na iva-validate ito ganitong report na maaaring ginagamit ng drug sydicates itong ating mga human rights groups para i-discredit ang efforts ng ating pamahalaan,” he said.
(We will continue to validate reports of drug syndicates using human rights groups to discredit efforts of the administration.)
The law enforcement officials clarified that the government remains open to criticisms.
Nevertheless, they are not discounting the possibility that drug lords are taking advantage of the negative feedback to stop the anti-drug campaign.
“There might be a possibility na sinasakyan na ito ng mga kalaban natin (that the enemies are riding on these issues), because any damage or attack against the campaign is of course advantageous to the other side,” said Carreon.
However, according to the group Human Rights Watch, the vilification of human rights advocates is a tactical move by the government to stop them from hounding the Duterte administration for its violations on the rule of law and possible involvement in crimes against humanity.
But Malacañang stood firm that some human rights groups are being used by drug lords.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Human Rights Watch should not feel alluded to or politicize the issue just to get media attention. — UNTV News & Rescue
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