THE country’s newly appointed top cop had just received his first marching order – to boost the government war against illegal drugs.
At the Laging Handa briefing, no less than PNP Director General Debold Sinas admitted having been given a directive by the President to intensify the anti-drug campaign.
“Ang pinakauna niya po talagang instruction ay ipagpatuloy, paigtingin at lakasan ang kampanya laban sa ilegal na droga,” Sinas said.
“At dapat talagang gawin namin iyong tungkulin namin para mabawasan o mahinto ang pagkalat ng mga ilegal na droga sa iba’t ibang parte ng Pilipinas. Pinapaigting niya lalo na iyong high-value targets,” he said.
The President’s statement however made the human rights activist raise the specter of unchecked human rights abuses under his watch.
The President earlier admitted that the government’s four-year old anti-drug war has yet been accomplished even as he claims that 2 in every 100 Filipinos remains addicted to illicit drugs.
Sinas’ appointment had caused a stir on social media, where users recalled how as Manila police chief, he had celebrated his birthday in May with dozens of senior officers at a party or mañanita that defied strict coronavirus lockdown rules.
Sinas however shrugged off the issue and told his critics to ‘move on’ from the mañanita controversy.
At the regular virtual press briefing, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte valued Sinas’ track record and “big” contribution to the drug war.
Asked about his qualifications, Roque said the President need not justify on whom he would appoint.
Sinas for his part defended his appointment and claimed that he is very qualified for the top PNP post.