PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and an anti-drug task force pose with clenched fists after recovering more than P900 million worth of shabu in a raid at Claveria town, Cagayan province in this August 30, 2016 Inquirer file photo.
THE Police Regional Office (PRO-7) said their anti-drug operations will be run by the book following their reinstatement to the government’s war on drugs.
“We activated our Drug Enforcement Units (DEUs). And we already set guidelines and procedures based on the memorandum given to us by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 7,” said Supt. Jose Mario Espino, PRO-7 chief.
He said one hour before an operation, the police will closely coordinate with PDEA-7 especially if it involves high value targets.
Espino said DEUs underwent human rights seminars conducted by the regional Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Espino said every death that occurred during an anti-drug operation will entail further investigation on the police officers involved.
“They have to explain immediately the circumstances on these deaths,” he said.
Espino said they will be able to know immediately who shot and killed the targets.
He said they will exhaust all means to arrest the suspects and avoid any deaths.
But the PRO-7 chief warned suspected drug dealers to surrender and not force the police to kill them.
“Although walang ganyan sa (there’s nothing in the) region, we assure the public that our police followed the right procedural operations,” Espino said.