Liberal Party (LP) senators on Friday vowed to block the nearly P1-billion budget for the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) anti-drug campaign next year if it would not present “alternative strategies” in the deadly anti-drug war campaign.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Bam Aquino issued this statement amid the continuous rise in the killings and cases of police abuses in the name of the government’s war on drugs.

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“We will reject the 4,400-percent increase in the budget for Oplan Tokhang, also called Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded, if the PNP will insist on continuing the oplan that has already claimed thousands of lives, including young victims,” Drilon said in a statement.

From P20 million, the PNP’s proposed budget for Oplan Double Barrel increased to P900 million for 2018.

Pangilinan said the government should ensure that the funds the police will use would not be abused in carrying out a “bloody” and “abusive” drive against illegal drugs.

“Kailangan nating matiyak na ang pondong ito ay hindi ginagamit o gagamitin bilang pagkukunan ng gantimpala ng pamahalaan sa mga alagad ng batas para pumatay ng kapwa Pilipino sa madugo at mapang-abusong giyerang ito kontra droga,” Pangilinan said.

(We need to ensure that the fund will not be used as reward money of the administration for the policemen in every kill they make against people in this bloody and abusive war on drugs.)

Aside from presenting an alternative plan in its anti-drug war, the senators said the PNP must also come up with a concrete strategy on how to solve the thousands of extrajudicial killings in the drug war.

“Our taxes should be spent to empower Filipinos to overcome poverty and serve their communities, not on a bloody war that breeds fear and suffering,” Aquino said.

“Filipinos deserve better solutions to the drug menace. We should be capable of developing solutions that leverage on the strength our families, our communities and our passionate young Filipinos, instead of this over-reliance on violence,” Aquino added. JPV

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