Filtered By: Topstories
News

Subpoena power for cops ‘not unlimited,’ CHR notes


The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it "recognized the intent" of granting of subpoena powers to top Philippine National Police (PNP) officials with the intent of speeding up criminal investigations, but emphasized the authority should be used lawfully.

In a statement issued Tuesday, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the rights body expects the police force to utilize the newly-given authority in bringing justice to victims of crimes linked to President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.

"The Commission recognizes the intent of granting subpoena power to PNP in speeding up criminal investigations. As such, we look forward to more cases being brought to justice, including those deaths linked to the government's campaign against illegal drugs," wrote De Guia.

"We emphasize, however, that this new authority is not unlimited and should be within the bounds of our Constitutional rights, laws, Rules of Court, and jurisprudence in the interest of upholding the rule of law and human rights for all," she added.

The statement came two weeks after President Duterte signed into law Republic Act 10973, which authorizes the PNP chief, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director, and the CIDG deputy director for administration to summon individuals and documents to aid investigations.

Aside from lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc who opposed the measure's passage,  Human Rights Watch researcher Carlos Conde also raised the concern that the law could be abused by the police force.

Malacañang had dismissed the critique, saying  Republic Act 10973 does not give police officials the direct authority to order arrests.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque emphasized last week that the move is meant to speed up the "slow" criminal investigation process due to respondents and witnesses who could not be summoned to court.

Roque also pointed out that the PNP-CIDG would need to file a case for indirect contempt before the courts if their summons were ignored.

Prior to the law's passage, only the courts, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency were authorized to issue subpoenas.

The CHR, as well as other international human rights organizations, are looking into thousands of alleged human rights violations and extrajudicial killings linked to the PNP's crackdown on drug suspects in line with the Duterte administration's anti-drug campaign. — BM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT