Police will not follow unlawful orders in anti-drug war – Eleazar

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said policemen are not “fools” to follow unlawful orders when conducting anti-illegal drugs operations, adding that President Duterte did not give the PNP “permission to kill.”

The President was quoted earlier ordering “trained-to-kill” law enforcers to “shoot to kill” those involved in the illegal drug trade who will resist arrest.

“Linawin natin yung permission to kill. Yang si Pangulo ay lawyer. Kaming pulis, hindi naman kami gago na sasabihin na gumawa ng mali ay gagawa ng mali,” Eleazar said.

Eleazar stressed that he was ordered by the President to do what is “right and legal,” and policemen do not have any “license to kill.”

“Nung magpunta ako sa kanya before I took office, ang sinabi niya lang sa akin ay: ‘My marching order to you is very clear, very simple— do what is right and legal’,” he said.

Eleazar stressed that any abuses by police officers will immediately be investigated that could lead to appropriate sanctions. “Kapag nag-violate ka ay kakasuhan ka. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na sinabi ng Presidente e, ‘Tumalon ka dyan sa bangin’, e tatalon na kami … Hindi naman kami mga walang isip na mga pulis,” he added.