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Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said 1,286 police personnel were affected by the drug war from June 2016 to June 2022.

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Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1732003925860police-013117.webp" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of the Philippine National Police. ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the Philippine National Police. <em>ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Lawmakers are seeking to increase the budget allocated for legal assistance to uniformed personnel, after several police officers claimed they were left to fend for themselves following the war on drugs.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/14/pnp-duterte-neglected-many-police-officers-in-drug-war-1604">• PNP: Duterte neglected many police officers in drug war</a></div><p>House Committee on Public Order and Safety chairperson Santa Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez said they decided to hold the inquiry to hear the stories of police who were also victims of the drug war during the Duterte administration.</p><p>Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said 1,286 police personnel were affected by the drug war from June 2016 to June 2022.</p><p>Of this figure, 312 were killed in police operations, 974 were wounded and over 200 are facing criminal cases, while 195 police officers were dismissed and 398 are in the process of dismissal.</p><p>&quot;Sa mahaba at malagim na kampanya laban sa iligal na droga, lumalabas ang katotohanan na maraming sa ating kapulisan rin ang naging biktima rin ng bulok at masamang sistema. May mga buhay na nabuwis, may iba naman na nahaharap sa kasong kriminal o administratibo, yung iba nasa kulungan na,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;It was promised in many pronouncements that they will be protected and taken care of by the former President [Rodrigo Duterte]. But unfortunately, based on the record of the PNP, no monetary or legal assistance was done,&quot; Fernandez added.</p><div><strong>CREATION OF FUND<br/></strong></div><p>The Laguna congressman proposed the creation of a fund that will be used to provide legal assistance for uniformed personnel facing cases.</p><p>&quot;Isulong natin ang pagkakaroon ng isang special account sa proposed national budget na maaaring gamiting ayuda para sa ating national enforcers na nangangailangan ng tulong,&quot; Fernandez said.</p><p>PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management Director Police Brig. Gen. Constancio Chinayog Jr. said 221 personnel were dismissed due to cases involving illegal drugs, though it not yet clear who among these were also victims.</p><p>PNP spokesperson Police Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, who spoke on behalf of the PNP chief, said that their fund is not enough to assist all officers facing charges for carrying out anti-illegal drug operations.</p><p>&quot;With the PNP legal assistance program, we extended support to PNP personnel facing charges from 2017 to 2022. However, the extent of legal assistance was insufficient in the light of number of personnel who face service related cases stemming from the anti-illegal drugs campaign,&quot; Fajardo said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/20/23/117-tauhan-ng-pnp-drug-enforcement-group-sinibak">• 117 tauhan ng PNP Drug Enforcement Group, sinibak</a></div><p>&quot;The situation underscores the urgent need for reform and systemic support for our police officers. They are not immune to the consequences of their actions,&quot; she added.</p><p>Fajardo clarified that not all cops facing charges will be given help, since some are not related to their service. </p><p>&quot;If a certain police officers will be charged for a certain offense of his own doing, meaning not in the act or performance of duty, this is not covered sa legal assistance,&quot; she said.</p><div><strong>&#x27;ATTACKED&#x27;</strong></div><p>Police Executive Master Sergeant Jose Petras III, assigned in the Sta. Barbara Police Station in Pangasinan, recounted how he was attacked during a buy-bust operation in January 29,2017. </p><p>&quot;After the transaction I was to arrest the suspect and I identified myself to be a police officer. But the suspect stabbed me on my [upper left] chest. After that I was brought to the hospital in Dagupan City. After the buy bust operation I received financial assistance,&quot; he said.</p><p>Petras said he received ₱100,000 which was deposited in his bank account.</p><p>Surigao Del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said: &quot;Dapat ma-clarify natin yung drug-related sa hindi drug-related. Yung tulong na pinaplano ng ating committee na magdagdag ng sapat na assistance for our PNP personnel wounded in action, should primordially be based on legitimate police operations.&quot;</p><p>Under Republic Act No. 6963, families or beneficiaries of police officers killed in operations receive benefits equivalent to six months of their salary, while those wounded will be reimbursed for hospitalization.</p><p>The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) will also give families benefits of police killed: one year&#x27;s worth of salary, monthly pension, burial expense and medical reimbursement of expenses. However, they said they have no legal fund to assist in such expenses.</p><div><strong>NO BUDGET FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE</strong></div><p>Lawmakers questioned why they do not have budget for legal assistance.</p><p>The PNP said there is ₱200 million allotted for legal assistance for all the attached agencies under the Department of Interior and Local Government. </p><p>&quot;When the war against drugs was implemented, this was perhaps the only time where more than a sufficient or significant number of police officers were charged administratively and some of them were already dismissed. In this particular issue, a ₱200 million budget for the DILG family is not enough considering the number of those charged administratively and criminally,&quot; Rep. Barbers said.</p><p>&quot;If we are indeed serious in helping the PNP, lakihan natin budget ng legal services ng PNP. Para hindi matakot yung ating kapulisan, yung mga kawani ng PNP na lumaban,&quot; he added.</p><p>Rep. Fernandez said they will propose in the bicameral conference committee additional funds for cops who were victims of the war on drugs. </p><p>He also appealed to the Senate to approve the House Bill 6509 or the measure proposing free legal assistance to uniformed personnel facing charges before prosecutors. </p><p>Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano urged the committee to also look into police officers who were victims of the drug war in other ways. </p><p>&quot;For example yung mga police na pinatay din because they were being accused that they were involved in illegal drugs. And the proof is there names were listed. Second is those names listed in Duterte&#x27;s list na that was assigned sa malalayo tapos pinatay. We have to get that list and the events… Ang daming police officers na matitino, magagaling just because they don&#x27;t believe in such program they are being victimized,&quot; Paduano said.</p><p>Lawmakers will invite to the next hearing police officials with such cases, the Civil Service Commission, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Wilkins Villanueva and Aaron Aquino, as well as the Dangerous Drugs Board.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D6KAdg8cxDk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said 1,286 police personnel were affected by the drug war from June 2016 to June 2022.</p>

Lawmakers seek budget for legal assistance for cops affected by war on drugs

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Lawmakers seek budget for legal assistance for cops affected by war on drugs

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 19, 2024 04:47 PM PHT

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