By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Two leaders of the House Young Guns on Tuesday (November 12, 2024) condemned ex-President Rodrigo Duterte’s public commitment to support police officers involved in his bloody drug war, calling it an “empty” and “useless” promise.

Many of these officers are now facing criminal and administrative charges without the backing they were promised.

Assistant Majority Leaders Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur and Pammy Zamora of Taguig City both expressed concern over PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil’s recent revelation that former President Duterte failed to support the officers as he had publicly pledged.

Marbil disclosed that despite Duterte’s promises, numerous police officers involved in anti-drug operations are now left to defend themselves in court.

“General Marbil’s statement exposes Duterte’s commitment to support his officers as nothing but an empty promise. Many of these officers now face charges without any backing from the former president who ordered them to ‘neutralize’ drug suspects. It is heartbreaking to think they were abandoned after following his directives,” Adiong said.

Marbil had recently called for stronger support for these officers, indicating that the promised backing for those involved in Duterte’s anti-drug campaign was never delivered.

According to Marbil, the officers who followed Duterte’s orders now face various charges and have been left without the legal and financial support that was once guaranteed to them.

Zamora echoed Adiong’s concerns, calling Duterte’s promises a “useless commitment” to those who risked their careers and reputations.

“It’s disheartening to see that the former president abandoned the very officers who implemented his war on drugs. They have been neglected after serving under his administration,” Zamora said.

Both lawmakers also highlighted the alleged reward system that reportedly incentivized drug-related killings during Duterte’s presidency.

“These officers were motivated by a system that encouraged results at any cost, and now they’re the ones paying the price. For the former president to make public promises of support, only to turn his back on them when they need it most, feels like a betrayal,” Adiong said.

Zamora pointed out that the failure to fulfill promises of support further highlights the flaws in Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.

“The President fell short in delivering on his promises, much like his anti-drug war itself. Now that we are piecing the story together, it’s clear that the support for the officers who once had Duterte’s full trust is now lacking,” Zamora said.

Zamora suggested that the lack of support has eroded trust in leadership.

“Duterte’s promises created a false sense of security. As those words turned into empty assurances, those who followed orders feel double-crossed. This damages not only the police force but also public trust in our institutions,” Zamora explained.

“A true leader is one who values actions more than words—one who stands by their people when things get difficult,” she added.

Adiong expressed concern for the officers’ well-being as they face the legal consequences of executing Duterte’s orders.

“These officers acted on orders and assurances. Now they face the consequences alone, and this abandonment is a serious injustice. This serves as a reminder that leaders must be held accountable for the directives they give,” Adiong said.

“As we work to prevent future abuses, it’s crucial to provide adequate legal support to officers who may be unfairly targeted while following orders,” he added.

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