FORMER President Rodrigo Roa Duterte admitted Wednesday during the House Quad Comm hearing that he was unaware of the number of police officers who were dismissed or charged while enforcing his violent war on drugs that killed thousands of Filipinos.
Duterte, who had vowed to protect law enforcers involved in his anti-drug operations, is only now offering to help, years after many officers lost their jobs, dignity and livelihood as a result of following his orders.
In response to Quad Comm co-chair and Sta. Rosa Rep. Dan Fernandez’s remarks about the plight of police officers facing criminal and administrative cases, Duterte claimed he was not informed of the situation.
“I was not asked even for a minute,” Duterte said.
Duterte then made a belated promise to establish a fund for their legal defense, stating, “I will start a fund sa protection ng mga pulis… meron akong P1M… I’ll start raising fund para tulungan ang mga pulis and I will personally appear in court ako mismo ang mag-defend sa kanila.”
The offer of financial assistance appeared to surprise Fernandez, especially since Duterte had claimed earlier that he couldn’t afford transportation to attend the hearing.
“Two days ago you have mentioned that wala po kayong pamasahe dito and I’m pretty shocked na meron po kayong P1M in your account to help our policemen,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez highlighted the extent of the impact on the police force, saying that “195 officers na po yung na-dismissed. Nasira po ang kanilang buhay, nawalan po sila ng trabaho, they were humiliated, their dignity was lost.”
This plight of police officers, Fernandez implied, was not adequately addressed by Duterte, who had frequently assured law enforcers that he would take responsibility for their actions in his war on drugs.
Duterte claimed he was unaware of the dismissals, saying, “I don’t have the record… so hindi ko alam yan.”
“If you’re citing the records, then I would admit it totoo yan. Walang problema, sinabi mo eh,” Duterte said.
Fernandez pressed Duterte on why he had neglected these officers, given his previous assurances to “take care” of them.
“But my question is bakit po natin sila napabayaan sabi niyo po sagot niyo sila?” Fernandez asked.
Duterte responded by saying that being a police officer does not make one immune to accountability.
“If you work for the government, there are rules to be followed. It is not just because you are a policeman that you are always correct,” he stated, shifting the responsibility back onto the officers.
When Fernandez reminded Duterte of his promise to stand by police officers in the line of duty, Duterte attempted to defend himself by claiming he had helped police families in other ways, including providing rice and financial aid.
“Walang rekord na bigas pati pera na binigay ko sa pamilya nila,” he argued.
Duterte’s war on drugs led to the deaths of thousands and the alleged extrajudicial killings of suspected drug offenders, attracting condemnation from international human rights groups and the International Criminal Court.
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