Dela Rosa to send cops involved in drugs to Sulu, Basilan to fight Abu Sayyaf

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa is furious that no police officer has come forward to admit involvement in illegal drug activities after his 48-hour deadline lapsed Monday.

He said he will send these officers whose names he has on a list of those involved in the illegal drugs trade to Sulu and Basilan to fight the Abu Sayyaf.

He announced the deadline when he took over as PNP chief, warning scalawags in the service their days are numbered.

Also read: PNP Chief warns rogue policemen: Your days are numbered

Dela Rosa, nevertheless, assured the public, there will be no let-up in his campaign to cleanse police ranks.

Dela Rosa said even though no suspected erring officer has surrendered, he has a plan to get back at policemen involved in drugs.

“Palambutin. Palambutin,” dela Rosa said in a press briefing. “Alam mo yung sa Baguio, yung manok na pinikpikan. Pipikpikin muna [ang manok] bago katayin.”

[Translation: Soften (them), soften (them). Just like in Baguio, you know the chicken dish ‘Pinikpikan’? The chicken is beaten up before it is butchered.]

Since none of those he knew involved in drugs has come forward to surrender, Dela Rosa said he will send them to Sulu and Basilan to fight the Abu Sayyaf group, which is notorious for beheading its captives and has reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS.

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“Tatahimik na lang ako – hindi na maraming salita. Tahimik lang ako basta deep inside my heart, galit ako,” dela Rosa said. [I will just keep quiet – not a lot of talk anymore. I will just keep quiet but deep inside my heart I am enraged.]

Also read: Duterte: Just give me the luxury of time to confront the Abu Sayyaf

11 policemen tested positive for drugs after random testing

The PNP has started weeding out misfits, with Dela Rosa leading a nationwide random drug test last Friday.

At least 75 senior officers were the first in line, and all tested negative.

But out of more than 2,400 other policemen who underwent drug testing, 11 came out positive.

“Nakakahiya, nakakagalit at nakakasuklam,” Dela Rosa said. “Kayo ang tagapagpatupad sa batas tapos kayo mismo ang nagva-violate, kayo mismo ang adik.”

[Translation: It’s embarrassing, infuriating, and disgusting. You enforce the law, and yet you are the ones violating it, you are the drug addicts.]

₱1-billion worth shabu nabbed in a farm in Cagayan

With Oplan Double Barrel, PNP’s intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign, 180 kilograms or about ₱1-billion worth of suspected shabu were discovered in an abandoned farm in Claveria, Cagayan, on Sunday.

Oplan Double Barrel targets both the drug lords and street dealers at the same time.

Dela Rosa said the suspected shabu could have come from mainland China or Taiwan. According to initial reports, the drugs were intended for delivery to Binondo, Manila, prior to its sale.

“Itong shipment na ito, is isasakay by land papuntang Binondo. Kung sino ang tao sa Binondo, hindi alam ng informant,” Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: This shipment was supposed to have been transported by land to Binondo. Who the recipient is in Binondo, the informant doesn’t know.]

The PNP has yet to locate the farm owner.

Dela Rosa wanted the recovered illegal drugs to be burned immediately to avoid “recycling,” a police term for seized shabu that is stolen and sold on the streets by corrupt officers.

Normally, recovered illegal drugs are turned-over to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for safe keeping.

New PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña promised there won’t be “recycling” of illegal drugs under his watch.

The recovered drugs will serve as evidence against suspects. After the drugs have gone through the judicial process, they will be destroyed immediately and publicly for transparency.

Also read: Duterte promises funds for PNP campaign vs drugs and crime

CNN Philippines' Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.