PNP says ”no problem” if US withdraws assistance

September 28, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said there is no problem if the United States is planning to withdraw their assistance to them as long as President Rodrigo Duterte is supporting them.

“Well for as long as the PNP has the support of the President, that's what we are in. There’s no problem with us for as long as the President supports the PNP. We are very, very happy,” Police General Camilo Cascolan said in a press briefing.

Cascolan said the PNP receives assistance from the US through Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program (ATAP), schooling, trainings, seminars and conferences.

He said even if the US withdraws their assistance, the PNP will not be affected.

“We also have joint police exercises but...  if they pull out their support from us, in no way it will affect the PNP. As I have said, as long as we have the support of our President Rodrigo Duterte, we will be doing our job and the morale of the PNP is still very high,” he said.

Last week, Pennsylvania Representative Susan Wild introduced a bill seeking to suspend aid being given by America to the Philippine military and police as a response to the passage of the controversial anti-terrorism law.

Wild also expressed concern over the human rights violations allegedly perpetrated by security forces and cited a criteria that the Philippines has to meet for aid to resume if it would really be suspended

Cascolan reiterated that they filed cases against all police officers who were found violating human rights and did not follow the rule of law.

“IAS (Internal Affairs Service) is actually focusing on all these. We have talks already with the DOJ (Department of Justice) and the PCOO (Presidential Communications Operations Office) and PDEG (PNP- Drug Enforcement Group) and together with the anti-drug council," Cascolan said.

"We will continue to cooperate with each other so that we will be able to enhance our operational activities most especially against illegal drugs,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS