Fifteen officials and personnel of the Eastern Visayas regional police office were relieved on suspicion of being on the payroll of suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa Jr.

Chief Superintendent Elmer C. Beltejar, acting Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8) director, told reporters he already placed the 15 officers on floating status. He, however, withheld their names pending investigation.

Beltejar said Albuera, Leyte, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., Kerwin’s father, had named them as the protectors of his son Kerwin in an affidavit he submitted to the Leyte Provincial Prosecutor’s Office. Mayor Espinosa submitted the affidavit on August 23, a day after family lawyer Rogelio G. Bato Jr. was gunned down in Tacloban City.

Earlier, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, Albuera police chief, said police found 500 used checks in the house of Kerwin during a raid.

The checks were written out to police officials, even prominent politicians leaders and media personalities.

Mayor Espinosa has requested police protection for himself and his family.

WAR ON DRUG DEFENDED

Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter S. Cayetano yesterday defended the current administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign, stressing that it is not a war against life but a war to fight for the lives of the more than 100 million Filipinos.

Cayetano stressed this to explain his privilege speech delivered last Wednesday following “false reports” in foreign media about the violation of Filipinos’ human rights in the current intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Critics say that more than 2,000 persons allegedly linked to the illegal drug trade have been killed in alleged summary killing or extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the first two months of the Duterte administration.

But Cayetano maintained the campaign it is not a war against human rights but a war to protect human rights and to ensure the safety and welfare of the Filipino family.

FILIPINOS FEELING SAFER

Contrary to claims of the Commission on Human Rights, Cayetano said the government’s strong policies against criminality have made it possible for Filipino families to begin feeling safer, particularly since the government waged an all-out war on drugs.

He pointed out in his privilege speech that the chairmanship of Sen. Leila de Lima of the Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee, which has been investigating the alleged EJKs, and her being a human rights advocate is a “deadly combination.” The chairman of this committee must be seen as neutral, he added.

Cayetano reiterated that President Duterte has not wavered in his commitment to uphold and protect the human rights of every Filipino at any time, contrary to what the President’s critics are trying to portray.

The government’s unrelenting campaign against illegal drugs has actually improved the country’s peace and order situation

“If you listen to the President’s speeches… palagi niyang sinasabi that he will operate within the confines of the Philippine Constitution. He will respect the Bill of Rights and the rule of law,” he said.

ALARMING LEVEL

Cayetano said the drug menace has reached alarming levels that nothing short of bold and swift solutions are needed to end the problem.

He said criminality was already rampant under previous administrations at the rate of almost 1,000-2,000 incidents of murders and homicides every month. The only difference, he said, is that in the past, innocent citizens were hounded and victimized by hardened criminals and drug pushers. But today, it’s the law that’s hounding the drug pushers and criminals, he noted.

“Don’t you feel safer today than six years ago? Before, Filipinos had no sense of security. Before, people were afraid. Now, people feel there is a marked change for the better. Now, it is the criminals who are afraid, not the citizens,” he said.

Cayetano also denounced Duterte’s detractors’ penchant to blame the administration for all the drug-related killings in the country.

He said the slack use of EJKs to label all suspected drug casualties puts in question the motive behind the investigation being conducted by Senator de Lima’s justice committee.

“Are some people using the term EJK loosely not because they are human rights advocates… [but] to discredit the PNP and the Duterte administration?” Cayetano asked as he reiterated his call for De Lima to inhibit herself from the inquiry.

Cayetano said labeling the deaths of drug suspects as EJKs is obviously meant to create the wrong perception that the State is initiating the executions and is doing nothing to resolve the crimes.

“The State – the executive branch, legislative branch, and the judiciary – are doing its best to ensure that the rule of law prevails. Even the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is part of the state and is already investigating,” he pointed out.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Nestor L. Abrematea

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