Marcos: Abuses linked to war on drugs committed during 'previous administration'

WASHINGTON —President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Thursday (Washington time) that there had been abuses committed during the "previous administration" in the war on illegal drugs, which he said focused too much on law enforcement.

This, as he announced that he has accepted the courtesy resignation of two police generals currently under probe for alleged links to drugs.

"In my view what had happened in the previous administration is that we focused very much on enforcement. And because of that, it could be said that there are abuses by certain elements in the government and that has caused some concern with many, in many quarters about the human rights situation in the Philippines,” Marcos said in a forum organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

“Well, I cannot speak to what my predecessor had in mind and what his idea was. But what I can speak is to the policy that we have undertaken and that I said the drug war continues to be at the source of many --- much criminality in the Philippines,” he added.

He said that syndicates have grown "stronger, wealthier, more influential, worryingly so."

"Instead of going after everyone, I tried to identify the key areas that we have to tackle, attend to so that we can see a diminution of the activities of the drug syndicates," he added.    

Resignation

Marcos said he has directed the creation of a commission currently looking into the records of police officials.

The Department of Interior and Local Government also earlier asked the country’s top cops to submit their courtesy resignation while investigation over alleged drug links is ongoing.

“As of today, two of those very high ranking --- I think general rank have already been removed --- have been separated from the service,” Marcos said.

“And there are still over 30 cases that are being administratively investigated and that will continue and if anything is found that is --- that implicates any of them to have been --- to be involved in any of these activities, then we will start to develop the cases against them and in that way dismantle this terrible system that has grown up and has become such a cancer in our society, that has --- that has gone all the way to the highest levels of government,” he added.

Rehabilitation

In a separate interview with reporters, Marcos was asked to assess Duterte's drug campaign.

He said: "I’m in no position to assess the administration of anybody else. That is not proper for me --- that’s not a proper role for me to take."

Marcos has since said his administration would focus on rehabilitation to curb the drug menace.

The President also said dismantling drug syndicates is necessary to address the problem.

“So, the change in policy, I believe is much more focused. I always say that the previous administration was focused on enforcement. We have taken enforcement as far as we can,” Marcos said.

“Now, it is time to look at actually going after dismantling these syndicates and before that we should also look at --- not the rehabilitation of those who have already fallen into this drug culture which has destroyed their lives,” he added.

Asked for comment on Marcos' remarks, lawyer Harry Roque, former spokesperson of Duterte, said the former president "never said that drug war was perfect."

"He repeatedly warned the PNP that when they are on the right, he's solidly behind them. They're on their own when they violate the law," Roque told GMA News Online.

Roque also said the anti-drug campaign was one of Duterte's few campaign promises which he delivered.

"Probably the reason why he enjoys the highest trust and approval rating of any past president," he said. —LDF/RSJ, GMA Integrated News