Senator Raffy Tulfo has strongly criticized what he described as repeated incidents of excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), following reported civilian deaths during operations.
In a privilege speech delivered in the Senate on Monday, May 4, Tulfo cited several cases, including the so-called “Alfad Case” in Zamboanga City, where three civilians were killed during a joint police-military operation.
Based on the testimony of survivor Mohammad Alfad, who sought assistance through Tulfo’s program, armed operatives allegedly raided their home around 1:30 a.m. to serve an arrest warrant against a certain Saddam Siddik. The family insisted the suspect was not present in their residence at the time.
Alfad claimed they were awakened by continuous gunfire inside their home. Authorities, however, maintained that their personnel acted in self-defense after allegedly coming under fire from unidentified individuals. Subsequent investigation reportedly showed that the named target was not in the area during the operation.
Tulfo warned that the incident reflects deeper systemic issues in law enforcement operations, including poor planning, failure to observe rules of engagement, and the use of disproportionate force.
“Hindi lang itong kaso na ito ang nakarating sa akin kung saan ang ating mga law enforcers ay lumabis sa kanilang mga operations. Paulit ulit na lang na sumusugod ang mga ito at kakalampagin ang mga nananahimik na mga komunidad,” he said.
He stressed that many victims of mistaken identity and collateral damage stem from operational lapses. Tulfo also pointed to weaknesses in the electronic warrant system, noting that outdated or inaccurate data may contribute to the wrongful targeting of individuals.
“All the victims of mistaken identity and all the collateral damages during law enforcement operations are victims of [a] lack of planning,” he said.
The senator further emphasized the need for stricter adherence to rules of engagement, taking into account factors such as threat level, weapon type, and operational conditions. He also called for stronger application of command responsibility, saying accountability should extend beyond ground personnel to their superiors.
Tulfo underscored that law enforcement agencies are mandated to protect public safety, not instill fear.
“Laws are created to provide peace and order in a society. And we create law enforcement agencies such as our PNP, as well as the AFP, for national security purposes… But what happens when these law enforcers create fear and not a sense of peace? I think there is something wrong. And we must do something; if not, we can consider ourselves as accomplices,” he said.
