The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) ends its 16-year-old exchange program with the Philippine National Police due to “concerns of allegations of civil rights violations in the Philippines.”
The Filipino-American Law Enforcement Officers Association (FALEO) organized the program, which began in 1999.
The program comprises of lectures, dialogues, enforcement and rescue training as well as turnover of new and second-hand equipment to PNP.
By 2010, the exchange program grew with the inclusion of members coming from the Bay Area Rapid Transit Police, the California Department of Justice/Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and the San Francisco District Attorney’s Investigations Bureau.
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Retired Filipino American Police Lieutenant Eric Quema communicated to local San Francisco CBS affiliate KPIX that, “Our nation [the Philippines] is in turmoil and trouble and it just gets worse and worse. Economically, because of this controversy, it affects every segment of making us a better nation and better people.”
During his campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte promised to wage a war against illegal drugs and has kept to this promise ever since he won, with more than 3,500 people killed and 700,000 drug users and pushers have been persuaded to surrender.
Out of these deaths, 1,100 were suspects killed during police operations while the other were killed by unidentified assailants. Due to this, Duterte has been highly criticized for allegations of extrajudicial killings as well as giving the police an order to “shoot to kill” assumed drug pushers.
Police departments in the US are also accused of making use of excessive force towards civilians, particularly ethnic minorities. The difference is that US President Barack Obama’s is vocal in condemning such acts on the part of the police.
As quoted by ABC News last July, President Obama stated, “All of us Americans should be troubled by these shootings. These are not isolated incidents, they are symptomatic of a broader set of racial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system.”
On the other hand, President Duterte was quoted last July saying, “Do your duty and if in the process you kill 1,000 persons because you were doing your duty, I will protect you.”
Source: (rappler.com)
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