PNP forms panel to review anti-drug campaign

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has established a review panel to assess the effectiveness and alignment of its anti-illegal drugs campaign with justice and human rights principles.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil ordered a comprehensive review of past campaigns, including 'Oplan Double Barrel' and its predecessor operations, to identify strengths and weaknesses.

The review aims to enhance and inform a recalibrated anti-illegal drugs strategy for the PNP, prioritizing saving lives and using guns only as a last resort.

Marbil also ordered the creation of a panel to review the campaign's key components: Project Tokhang and Project High-Value Target.

The panel will be led by the office of the PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria and composed of representatives from various PNP directorates, the Internal Affairs Service, and the Human Rights Office.

This initiative follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to shift away from the deadly approach of the previous administration's drug war.

President Marcos Jr. has stated his drug war strategy does not involve 'extermination' and is 'bloodless', a claim contradicted by data from Dahas PH which monitors drug-related killings.

More than 6,000 drug users died while thousands more were killed by drug war-inspired vigilante groups in the past administration.