PNP to send 566 scalawag police, drug cops to Marawi City, CHR reacts

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said police officers who are involved in illegal drugs cases will be sent to Marawi City, P/Sr. Insp. Dennis Malabanan said.

Malabanan said that there are 1,097 police officers involved in drugs, and 566 of them are already arraigned and convicted. Only convicted police will be sent to Marawi.

“Rather than sending regular troops, these convicted police officers will serve on the frontline. The government cannot afford to lose good people anymore, so we decided to use these people to give them chance to prove that their lives are still important,” Malabanan said.

The cops will be issued with standard military equipment to defend themselves.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) however criticized the move by the PNP saying that the convicted police officers will be marching to their death.

Chairman Cito Gascon, in a press conference on Monday after attending the Independence Day celebration said that the said plan of the PNP will only worsen the situation.

“We have 566 dead man walking. Our government cannot make these people as pawns. They are humans too. They should be given chance to live through due process”, Gascon said.

Malabanan however insisted that the said police officers have enough training to defend themselves, and they have the will to live.

“They are police officers, they have enough training and they have call of duty to protect this country”, Malabanan said.

He also added that the deployment will start on Wednesday, June 14.  /Niña Corpuz/

Note: Please read our About Us page if you have any confusion

Loading...