DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Police Colonel Jovie Espenido revealed on Wednesday that the reward and quota system in the anti-illegal drug campaign during the Duterte administration led to abuses and human rights violations by some police officers.
Speaking during a House investigation into the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte, Espenido highlighted that while some high-profile drug lords were neutralized, the majority of those killed were “victims—ordinary users and peddlers.”
“Masabi ko, your honors, na marami ang nasiyahan. Because sa akin naman, hinanap na ‘yung source ng drugs. But then, very sad to say na ang nangyari, yung mga biktima lang ang napatay, ‘yung mga pusher, user,” Espenido told the panel,” Espebido claimed.
Espenido alleged that both individuals close to the former president and some of his colleagues within the Philippine National Police (PNP) exploited the “tokhang” (knock and plead) campaign for personal gain.
In his affidavit, Espenido detailed that intelligence funds and money from Philippine offshore gambling operations (POGOs) were used to finance the reward system. “After these POGOs registered with the government, funding was funneled downward from the level of Bong Go,” he said, referring to Duterte’s close aide and now-Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
He claimed that the previous administration’s drug war resulted in significant human rights violations. Government data indicated that over 6,200 drug personalities were killed as of March 2022.
“Para sa akin, mga biktima sila, gusto ko sana silang bigyan ng second chance,” Espenido said. (For me, they are just victims. I really wanted to give them a second chance.)
Espenido recounted that during his assignments in Leyte province, Ozamiz City, and Bacolod City, he instructed his law enforcement team to avoid targeting victims and instead focus on high-level pushers, suppliers, and drug lords.
“My mission was for drug suspects to surrender and be rehabilitated. Nobody died during my stints in Albuera (Leyte) and Bacolod,” he said.
Under the quota and reward system imposed by PNP leadership, Espenido noted that officers were required to “knock on the doors of 50-100 households suspected of drug use or pushing.” He disclosed that there was a reward of PHP20,000 per kill.
“The funding came from operators of small-town lottery or jueteng lords who gave money to PNP regional commanders and provincial commanders, down the line,” he added.
Espenido clarified that police stations under his command accepted rewards only from local government units, and the funds were used to support further operations.
The post Espenido confirms abuses in past drug wars due to reward, quota system appeared first on NewsLine Philippines.
Espenido confirms abuses in past drug wars due to reward, quota system
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