PNP urges candidates, poll firms to be ”responsible”

March 4, 2019

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday urged politicians and private survey companies to be truthful to Filipinos, especially during the election period.

“Let us be responsible enough,” Police General Oscar Albayalde said in a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Albayalde made the statement after the release of a Social Weather Station survey on the number of Filipinos being afraid of becoming a victim of extra-judicial killings (EJK).

“We really do not know what the motive of it is. This is a private corporation, a private agency that we have no control of,” he said.

“What we are asking here is that we humbly ask is for them to be responsible. What important here is our social responsibility. What do we want to show our people here? In the first place EJK up to now is not yet proven, no less than the human rights have already said that,” Albayalde said.

He said over the years, the country has improved based on peace and order situation despite these allegations.

Albayalde added they are doing everything to prevent killings in the streets whether drug-related or not.

He said he took the latest Social Weather Survey on 78 percent of Filipinos  afraid of being killed or being a victim of extrajudicial killings with a “full cup of salt”.

“It shouldn’t be surprising that 78  percent are afraid of getting killed. Who isn’t afraid to die, anyway?,” said Albayalde.

The PNP chief said he does not want to dispute the statistics of the SWS but he said there is something amiss with how questions were framed in relation to the perception of alleged police involvement in illegal drugs and alleged EJK. 

“Responses to the question “Gaano po kayo nangangamba na kayo o sino mang kilala ninyo ay maging biktima ng ‘extrajudicial killing’ o EJK?” cannot be validated by respondents without keen awareness or understanding of EJK as we know it from Administrative Order No. 35 Series of 2012 by President Aquino,” said Albayalde.

He said the survey ''missed a crucial point of determining respondents’ awareness of EJK before going any further, or at the very least providing a briefer to define EJK for the respondent.''

The survey'' doesn’t change the fact that a large majority continue to support the national crusade against illegal drugs and show appreciation to the improved drug situation in their own communities,'' added Albayalde.

On the allegation of senatorial aspirant, Chel Diokno about the re-arrest of a pedicab driver in Quezon Province without a warrant, Albayalde said that person was already charged with robbery, frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms.

“We don’t know why it suddenly come out? Is it because of the election fever or not?  That’s we were informing the public to be aware that this kind of incident are being used,” said Albayalde.

According to the PNP chief, the suspect was arrested November last year and just stayed in the hospital for months after being injured during his encounter with the police.

On March 1, the prosecutor upheld his detention in police custody and Albayalde said he is not re-arrested.

Albayalde added that despite a dismissal of the Ombudsman on the case filed by the suspect, he still ordered the relieve of the involved police officers and they are being investigated by the Internal Affairs Service.

“Well we don’t know what is their motive. That’s why our people should be the one to judge. Some probable candidates will be using so many issues against the government or even against law enforcement. We hope they (candidates) will not use people or any victims,” he said.

“Let’s feel pity for our people and not use them for our personal interest,” he added. About the narco-politicians list, Albayalde reiterated it will be up to President Rodrigo Duterte if he wants to release the list before the start of elections.

“Well it's up to the Office of the President. Probably it’s his call if he will release it or not. Or probably the SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government) or the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) for that matter,” he said.

“If he (Duterte) decides to divulge the list then we will support his decision. It depends on him,” he added.

Albayalde said the agency involved in the list will not release it without the president’s order but he added validating the list is also hard.

“But if it is validated probably it's just fair for the Filipino people to know who they are…  It's high time Filipinos should know the truth so they can decide properly on who should be the leaders of our country,” he said. Ella Dionisio/DMS