Filtered By: Topstories
News

CHR: Saddened but not surprised by PNP report on EJKs


The report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the state of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under the Duterte administration did not come as a shock to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon said he is not surprised with the latest PNP statement on EJKs.

"We are saddened even if we are no longer surprised by this latest attempt by the PNP to obfuscate the facts involving the number of deaths related to the PDU30 Administration's war-on-drugs," he said.

He added that the PNP has deliberately been trying to "deflect" the number of casualties by categorizing these cases as deaths-under-investigation or DUI and that these are not being drug related.

The CHR chairman was referring to the report of PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos that there has been no case of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration.

Carlos issued the statement after he corrected an earlier claim that the death of Catanduanes-based journalist Larry Que is the only confirmed EJK case.

"Larry Que case is not yet a confirmed EJK case according to TF (Task Force) Usig Secretariat. My mistake," he said.

However, Gascon said the PNP asserts that "nanlaban" cases or instances wherein the suspect resisted arrest as lawful deaths on what they claim to have been conducted legitimately on the presumption of regularity of performance of duty.

He pointed out that the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey points to public perception that the PNP's statement is not credible to the majority of respondents.

He was referring to the recent survey that showed 73 percent of Filipinos are worried that they, or someone they know, could fall victim to EJK.

Gascon said, "The fact that no charges are being filed in court for nanlaban cases suggests that a policy of impunity as this has diverged from the previous practice where charges are immediately brought to court on the basis that the requisites of probable cause are already met. The defense of 'nanlaban' is invoked properly in court as a justifying circumstance and not at preliminary investigation."

He said the situation is aggravated because the CHR is denied access to case folders.

He was referring to the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte to the PNP not to open its case folders to the Commission without his consent.

Gascon also said the PNP's definition of EJK, which is based on Administrative Order 35 issued by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2013, is not appropriate.

The objective of the said Administrative Order, he explained, was only to establish an inter-agency body to fast-track the resolution of politically motivated killings.

"It did not purport then nor can it now be used as an exhaustive or comprehensive definition for EJKs as universally understood," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Bam Aquino earlier said the lack of EJK cases recognized by the police force shows that the agency "is hiding behind definitions" and that they are not facing the problem head-on.

Aquino said based recent surveys, only a small percentage of Filipinos believe that the killings of drug suspects are due to legitimate police operations.

"Maliit na porsyento na lang ang naniniwala na lehitimo ang mga patayan sa war on drugs, at malaki naman ang nangangamba na masasangkot sila kahit inosente," he said. — BAP, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT