Palace defends PNP's basis for defining extrajudicial killings

Malacañang on Saturday defended the Philippine National Police against criticisms arising from the PNP's report that there is no extrajudicial killing (EJK) under the present administration.

"The PNP’s statement that there is no case of extrajudicial killing under the Duterte Administration is based on the operational guidelines stated Administrative Order (AO) 35," Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Abella emphasized that the Palace considers "one death is too many," regardless of how it is defined.

"Regardless of  this definition, these deaths are being addressed to ensure the accountability of perpetrators, even as it calls upon witnesses and individuals who can provide valuable evidence that will lead to speedy resolution of cases," he said.

Under AO 35, EJKs are referred to as killings where “the victim was a member of, or affiliated with an organization, to include political, environmental, agrarian, labor, or similar causes; or an advocate of above-named causes; or a media practitioner or person(s) apparently mistaken or identified to be so." 

Abella said that AO 35 also considers a death as an EJK when the victim is "targeted and killed because of the actual or perceived membership, advocacy, or profession; or the person(s) responsible for the killing is a state agent or non-state agent; and the method and circumstances of attack reveal a deliberate intent to kill.”

Because AO 35 has not been replaced or revoked since it was adopted and signed by President Benigno Aquino on April 18, 2013, the definition remains.

Last Friday, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairman Chito Gascon said that the PNP's definition of EJK is inappropriate because the AO's purpose, in its entirety, 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," added. 

For his part, opposition Senator Bam Aquino insisted that the lack of EJK cases recognized by the police force shows that the PNP "is hiding behind definitions."

PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos last Friday reported that the only case of EJK in the country recognized by the police was the death of Catanduanes-based journalist Larry Que, although he was quick to retract this remark, which resulted in the "zero EJK" police report. —LBG, GMA News