Philippines: New PNP Chief's Anti-Drug Plan Sparks Human Rights Debate

Philippines: New PNP Chief Launches Anti-Drug Campaign Amid Human Rights Concerns On June 3, 2025, Police General Nicolas Torre III, the newly appointed chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), announced a new anti-drug strategy. The campaign, known as the "Paramihan System," will focus on increasing the number of drug suspects arrested. This metric will be used to evaluate the performance of over 200,000 police officers. General Torre stated, "Paramihan. The Paramihan system will be the basis for evaluating the performance of more than 20,000 police officers." He emphasized that the campaign would not repeat the human rights abuses of past drug wars. However, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed concern. Commissioner Beda A. Epres noted, "If our metric is numbers, then we might just increase arrests for the sake of meeting the directive. This is what is frightening." The CHR worries that vulnerable populations may be disproportionately targeted. General Torre's assurances and the CHR's concerns highlight the complex challenges of balancing effective law enforcement with the protection of human rights.