OVER a thousand police officers facing charges due to their involvement in the war on drugs are reportedly struggling, having been abandoned by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
In response, Duterte has pledged to provide P1 million in assistance to the affected police officers. He also refuted PNP Chief Rommel Marbil’s statement that he doesn’t help the police officers, claiming that he provides them with rice and tuition for their children.
During a committee hearing, Quad Committee lead-chair Robert Ace Barbers stated that the police officers are seeking assistance because they are heavily indebted to the Public Safety Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (PSSLAI).
“They need lawyers. In fact, some are forced to borrow from… PSSLAI just to pay for lawyers who can help them in court because they are facing charges,” Barbers said.
“They are simply asking where the promise to help them with their cases is, and what will happen if they are convicted,” added the lawmaker, who believes that those convicted will not receive presidential pardons since Duterte is no longer president.
House committee on public order and safety chair Rep. Dan Fernandez revealed that even the families of police officers killed in the war on drugs have not received any assistance from Duterte.
It was reported that 1,286 police officers were allegedly abandoned by Duterte, with 214 facing administrative and criminal cases, 195 dismissed from service, 398 facing termination, and 20 officers currently imprisoned.
Furthermore, 312 police officers reportedly died in the war on drugs, but their families have not received any assistance from the former president. Over 900 officers were also injured.
Fernandez plans to conduct a separate investigation to determine whether the police officers acted in the line of duty or if there was intent, particularly in the killings of unarmed victims on the drug list without strong evidence.
“We are also appealing to you because you are also victims of the war on drugs. If you want to share your experiences, we invite you to contact the Quad Comm,” Fernandez urged the police officers abandoned by Duterte.
Fernandez raised this issue with Duterte at the Quad Comm, where the former president stated that he would provide P1 million to assist police officers facing charges related to the war on drugs.
