QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) – The House of Representatives stood firm in its decision to retain the Php 900-million budget for the Philippine National Police’s “Oplan Double Barrel” for 2018.
For this, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Karlo Nograles junked the opposition’s argument that the money would be used to fund what they said was the police’s killing spree, noting instead that it was not the government’s policy to kill criminals in the first place.
“As you can see, the entire Caloocan City police force was relieved so that just goes to show that it’s not (a) state policy, not state-sanctioned,” he said, referring to the relief of the policemen done by the National Capital Region Police Office, following a series of controversial police operations that saw three boys dead, among others.
Nograles added that the reduction of funds that support police operations was tantamount to agreeing that criminals and drug lords should continue committing crimes.
“They will only end up winning that way,” he said.
“We should continue supporting our fight against crime and drugs but we will not allow the police to abuse their power. These are two different issues,” he added.