Palace says Duterte won’t tolerate police abuses as anti-drug operations continue

August 18, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte will not tolerate any abuse by law enforcers in implementing the war on drugs, a Palace official said.

This as Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the death of a 17-year old student during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City was an isolated case.

"I cannot assume on what the President thinks. But we can say with confidence is that those who are guilty of breaking the law, misuse or abuse will have to answer for that," he said on the death of the minor in Caloocan.  "(T)hat incident I think is isolated," he added.

Kian Loyd Delos Santos was among those killed in the police operation. Police claimed the minor tried to shoot the law enforcers, but CCTV footage in the area showed the boy surrendered but was still shot.

Abella reiterated what Duterte has repeatedly said: that he would defend police who were carrying out their duties.

"However, he will also not tolerate any abuse and any breaches of the law. I think that’s quite clear. He has said that before," he said.

Despite the series of killings involving drug suspects in Bulacan province and Metro Manila, Abella insisted streets were "safer."

At least 32 died in Bulacan and 25 others in Manila in the recent anti-drug operations by the anti-narcotics agents.

Asked if massive operations by the police would be the norm now, Abella said, "the norm is to address criminality. And this is simply a method, a particular way of doing things. But that’s not the endgame.

"The endgame is to make sure that corruption is addressed, criminality goes down, and that the demand for drugs is also reduced if not completely eradicated." Celerina Monte/DMS