Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa ordered all police units to stop anti-illegal drug operations nationwide.
“We have to focus our efforts towards internal cleansing. And by the time na ma-cleanse natin ang PNP, the President will determine that and he will instruct us to go back on the war on drugs. But right now, no more drug operations,” said Dela Rosa in a press briefing.
“Humanda kayo ngayon, kayong masasamang mga pulis. Wala na kaming war on drugs. Meron kami ngayong war on scalawags. Lilinisin namin ang hanay namin ngayon. Then after that, maybe, babalik na namin kami sa war on drugs. Linisin muna namin sabi ni Presidente,” he added.
Dela Rosa said the PNP will form a counter-intelligence task force against rogue cops, adding that he instructed various units to consolidate efforts and come up with a list of police scalawags.
Senior Superintendent Bert Ferro of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group (AIDG), which was ordered abolished by Duterte Sunday night, confirmed that Dela Rosa’s announcement means a stop to all anti-illegal drugs operations at the local level.
Ferro told reporters this is part of the President’s orders Sunday night during a joint police-military command conference in Malacañang.
With the order, the only government agency tasked to run after illegal drugs and dealers is the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
