MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is reviewing the previous administration’s Oplan Double Barrel to ensure the alignment of succeeding drives with human rights.
According to PNP chief Police General Romeo Marbil, the review is in line with PNP’s recalibration of anti-drug efforts and the improvement of current law enforcement operations.
“We need to take a hard look at our past and present strategies in the fight against illegal drugs,” Marbil said in a statement.
“By understanding what worked and what didn’t, we can refine our approach and ensure a more effective and humane campaign moving forward,” he added.
Marbil further said that the PNP wants to make sure that all perspectives are considered, especially those that relate to upholding human rights and maintaining strong community relations.
“This is about continuous improvement and accountability. The insights we gain from this review will directly inform our recalibrated strategy, ensuring that our anti-illegal drugs campaign is not only effective but also aligned with the principles of justice and human rights,” Marbil said.
In its memorandum dated July 1, 2016, the PNP launched the Oplan Double Barrel campaign in line with then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement to get rid of illegal drugs during the first six months of his term.
The former Chief Executive is currently facing an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity due to the drug war-related killings during his term.
According to police records, the war on drugs-related deaths have reached about 6,000 but human rights groups contend that there were as many as 30,000./PN
