Ano says he will not allow PNP to hide war on drugs info

January 30, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano on Thursday said he will not allow the Philippine National Police (PNP) to hide anything to the public when it comes to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“We are not hiding anything. I will not allow that we will deceive the people. We will show to the people what is really there (in the ground)… even the extra-judicial killings (figures),” Ano said in an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines Prospects Forum in Makati.

“I will not allow the PNP to do that,” he said.

Based on government’s data, from July 1, 2016 to November 30, 2019, a total of 5,552 alleged drug personalities died during anti-illegal drug operations.

Ano said he takse the statement of Vice President Leni Robredo as a “challenge”.

“It’s all right. I take this criticism as a challenge and on how we can look at things and improved more on our performance. This is a democratic country, much more to the vice president can say whatever she wants and we will take those criticism or comments as part of a challenge and constructively we will improve more our performance,” he said.

During her speech at FOCAP forum, Robredo hit anew the "brutal" anti-illegal drug campaign.

Robredo reiterated leaders should be accountable to their people.

“There must be a free flow of information. Information like the drug supply, real state of the economy must be open to the public, media,” she said. Ella Dionisio/DMS