In a press conference on Tuesday, House committee leaders underscored the need for legal assistance for police officers facing criminal and administrative charges related to their involvement in the bloody drug war during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Quad Committee chair, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte, said that despite promises made by the Duterte administration, many police officers are still struggling to secure legal support.
“Nangangailangan po sila ng abogado. In fact, yung iba ay napipilitan pong mangutang sa PSSLAI (Public Safety Savings and Loan Association Inc.) para lang makapagbayad ng abogado na makatutulong sa kanilang pagharap dito sa korte dahil nga po sila ay nahaharap sa mga kaso. Isa lang ho ang kanilang sinasabi na nasaan daw iyung pangako sa kanila na tutulungan sila sa mga kaso at kung ma-convict sila,” Barbers said.
“Di na mangyayari ngayon yun dahil nga ang pardon ay nagagawa lamang po ng dating Pangulo. So ngayon ay medyo nagkakaproblema po iyung ibang mga miyembro ng PNP na kung saan ay sa kanilang pagtupad sa kanilang duty to serve the people, sila po ay nakakaharap sa administrative and criminal cases,” he added.
Rep. Dan Fernandez of Santa Rosa, Laguna, the committee’s co-chair, called for a thorough investigation into whether the accused officers acted with criminal intent or were simply following orders.
“May intention ba talaga or it was really a call of duty? So kailangan natin malaman yung experience ng mga naapektuhan ng war on drugs,” Fernandez said.
Philippine National Poliece chief Rommel Marbil disclosed that 195 police officers have been dismissed from service, and 398 others are facing possible dismissal.
“So papaano iyung pamilya nila? Nawalan sila ng jobs, nawala iyung kanilang life, iyung kanilang dignity as well, in following those orders,” Marbil said.
“Now we wanted to investigate in order to find out what are the necessary things to do especially dito sa mga pamilyang ito. Kailangan siguro po natin ma-distinguish iyung isang lawful order and unlawful acts na ginawa ng mga pulis. Kasi kung mapapansin nyo na-dismiss sila eh. Mga lower ranks sila eh. Hindi nila alam na yun ang ginawa nila is unlawful,” Fernandez continued.
“Hindi ba may pronouncement ang (dating) presidente na, ‘I alone will be responsible for the effects of the war on drugs.’ Now na nangyari sa kanila ito, so sino ang tutulong kanila? So, I think the government should also step in, in order to find out yung culpability na nila talaga,” he added.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. assured that the committee’s goal is not to punish the officers but to offer assistance.
“Merong mga kapulisan natin na gustong magsabi ng katotohanan. Pinag-usapan na namin ito that we are there to help. We’re there to ask the DOJ to perhaps provide the witness protection on them. Sa palagay ko naman the present crop of the Philippine National Police leadership would provide protection for policemen who are honest enough to tell the truth. Hindi namin sila pababayaan. That, we could be able to assure them,” Abante said.