PNP to unmask 9 ‘narco’ generals

The President lamented in his SoNA that while drugs worth over a billion pesos are seized by the police and about a thousand Filipinos are arrested for pushing, the narcotics trade has still flourished

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar has taken on the challenge to identify and prosecute the nine generals tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte for alleged involvement in the trade of illegal drugs.

The President revealed the purported involvement of the generals in drug trafficking during his last State of the Nation Address before a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Monday.

It was not the first time that Mr. Duterte rued fighting forces within the government, including rogue cops, in fulfilling his promise to stop the drug trade.

Eleazar said that in response to the President’s revelation, he has ordered a thorough investigation to unmask the generals and, if so warranted by the evidence that will come to light, prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

The PNP chief reiterated that bad cops, much more those said to be occupying sensitive posts, have no place in the organization.

“We will investigate this matter carefully. We will identify the senior PNP officials who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs,” he said.

“I repeat, there is no room in the organization for corrupt police, especially those involved in illegal drugs,” Eleazar added.

Surigao del Norte Representative Robert “Ace” Barbers said he will push for a congressional inquiry on the alleged narco-generals.

The President also implicated the Bureau of Customs in the transshipment of narcotics.

“We are fighting a drug war that was being participated in by nine generals of the PNP. That pains me. I did not know that I was fighting my own government — Customs and everyone else,” Duterte said.

The President rued that while almost a billion pesos worth of drugs are seized by the police and about a thousand Filipinos are arrested for pushing, the narcotics trade has still flourished.

“That’s why I go crazy looking at the situation. They (narco traders and their protectors) are still around,” the President.

While the drug laboratories had been dismantled, he said the local demand for drugs is being met through importation.

Still, the Chief Executive said the anti-drug campaign can still be won and that a drug-free Philippines is still possible before he steps down from office.