By Martin Sadongdong
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is looking forward to carry out anti-illegal drug operations in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) after the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) issued a memorandum order authorizing such move, provided there is proper coordination.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde assured that if ever police operations in HEIs are conducted, rule of law will be followed and human rights will not be neglected nor abused.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde
(Mark Balmores / MANILA BULLETIN) “The conduct of operation will be based on the information that we will be receiving. If ever we will be conducting operations in various schools, we will closely coordinate with the school administrators,” Albayalde said. “We will follow the rule of law. We want to assure the public that human rights is deeply embedded in the system of the PNP. That we can promise and we can assure the public,” he added. The CHEd recently released Memorandum Order No. 18, series of 2018, which provides the implementing guidelines for the conduct of drug testing among students in all HEIs. Under Rule II, Section 2 of the memorandum order, it said: “In keeping with the dangerous drugs abuse prevention program of the government, the Local Government Units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP), or any authorized law enforcement agency may carry out any legitimate drug-related operation within the school premises, provided that the same shall be coordinated to the concerned HEIs prior to the conduct thereof.” Albayalde noted that they have yet to receive intelligence information about any illegal drug activities in HEIs. However, he recalled that when he became the regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), there were cases where a Grade 5 and a Grade 6 student were caught pushing illegal drugs. “This is what we've seen before, so definitely, there are really schools where some of its students are being involved in illegal drug activities,” he said. Whether cops can bring and use firearms within the premises of the HEIs, and other clarifications remain a question as the implementing guidelines for the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations in schools and universities have yet to be issued.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde(Mark Balmores / MANILA BULLETIN) “The conduct of operation will be based on the information that we will be receiving. If ever we will be conducting operations in various schools, we will closely coordinate with the school administrators,” Albayalde said. “We will follow the rule of law. We want to assure the public that human rights is deeply embedded in the system of the PNP. That we can promise and we can assure the public,” he added. The CHEd recently released Memorandum Order No. 18, series of 2018, which provides the implementing guidelines for the conduct of drug testing among students in all HEIs. Under Rule II, Section 2 of the memorandum order, it said: “In keeping with the dangerous drugs abuse prevention program of the government, the Local Government Units (LGUs), the Philippine National Police (PNP), or any authorized law enforcement agency may carry out any legitimate drug-related operation within the school premises, provided that the same shall be coordinated to the concerned HEIs prior to the conduct thereof.” Albayalde noted that they have yet to receive intelligence information about any illegal drug activities in HEIs. However, he recalled that when he became the regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), there were cases where a Grade 5 and a Grade 6 student were caught pushing illegal drugs. “This is what we've seen before, so definitely, there are really schools where some of its students are being involved in illegal drug activities,” he said. Whether cops can bring and use firearms within the premises of the HEIs, and other clarifications remain a question as the implementing guidelines for the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations in schools and universities have yet to be issued.