PNP head urges foreign analysts to mention cleansing police force of rogues

July 15, 2019

The head of the Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Monday urged foreign analysts to show how police officials are removing rogue elements instead of focusing on killings under the campaign against illegal drugs.

In a press briefing, Albayalde said the data reported by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) Project saying the Philippines is ranked fourth as most dangerous place in the world for civilians is "unfounded".

"That cannot be covered by data, I don't know how they were able to say that. What is there basis on saying that? I really don't know what is their basis," he said.

Albayalde cited the latest HSBC's survey showing the Philippines is ranked the 24th best place in the world to live and work.

Based on ACLED's report, around 490 civilians were killed since the start of 2019 due to a wave of targeted attacks.

ACLED said 75 percent of reported fatalities were drug suspects while 18 percent were government officials. ACLED is a US-based real-time data and analysis source on political violence and protests around the world. 

"Well, we keep on saying that in our drug war there were casualties but then why don't they highlight the more than 257,000 arrests compared to the 6,600 deaths in police operations? This is a mere 2.6 percent compared to the arrest we made," said Albayalde.

"Why don't they highlight our internal cleansing? Why don't they highlight the arrest we made of our own officials? Meaning, we don't let our men abuse our war on drugs even from the day we started," he added.

ACLED said killings of government officials spiked around the midterm elections but Albayalde said based on history the recent May polls were the most peaceful.

Albayalde challenged critics to come and live in the country to see for themselves how peaceful the Philippines is.

"We challenge these people to come here and live here and see for themselves how peaceful the Philippines is.... Yes, we have (our) share of incidents of terrorism but then you can see what we are doing. These cases are solved, " he said.

Albayalde said crime volume in the country decreased by six percent for the first quarter compared to last year.

  Asked if they are willing to welcome the United Nations representative in the country, Albayalde said it will up to the executive branch.

"We leave that to the higher authorities because we don't know where they will go. It could be a political exercise. We don't want to be involved if it's really a political exercise," he said.

"We will follow what the commander in chief will say. Even the Supreme Court probably," he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS