The anti-illegal drugs campaign of the Duterte administration needs a “new phase,” according to newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan.

In one of his first interviews as PNP chief, Cascolan told Rappler he wants to train cops in local drug enforcement units (DEUs) to aim for “bigger fish” in the illegal drugs trade and to prevent incidents of abuse. Cascolan said this will be done by adding training sessions and seminars for local police.

Cascolan, one of the brains behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, also proposes that the PNP be more selective with aspiring cops so they can block corrupt and abusive individuals from the police force.

“Actually, when it comes to the anti-drug war, we need to evaluate it. We need to have a new phase, we need to have much more trained DEU personnel. We need to have much more passion when it comes to anti-drugs,” Cascolan said in a Rappler Talk interview on Wednesday, September 2.

Evaluating the drug war

Cascolan was responding to Rappler’s question why the anti-drug campaign continues to focus on small-time drug suspects in poor communities while drug lords remain missing. Allegations of police abuse also continue to be rampant.

Cascolan did not categorically answer this question, but said he has ordered an evaluation of the anti-drug campaign to further study problems in its implementation.

The PNP has repeatedly vowed to focus on so-called high-value targets, but critics have not seen any changes in results. Most, if not all, of the apprehended and killed suspects continue to be from poor communities.

Depending on the group that counts, the PNP has killed between 5,600 to 8,000 drug suspects since President Duterte assumed office. Human rights groups estimate over 30,000 have been killed, including killings outside police operations inspired by the so-called “drug war.”

It remains unclear whether he can implement these as he will retire in two months – in November – unless President Duterte decides to extend his term. – Rappler.com