Human-rights lawyers says killing of drug suspects ‘madness’

The National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) on Monday condemned the alleged summary execution of drug suspects by law enforcement officers to eliminate the illegal drug trade.

“The madness must stop. Quick fix savagery and abuse of power by law enforcers supposedly to quell criminality and drugs, which, wittingly or unwittingly, directly or indirectly, are encouraged, condoned or sanctioned, is a Frankenstein that will haunt us all over time,” NUPL Secretary General Atty. Edre Olalia said in a statement.

Olalia added that authorities must respect the human rights of the suspects, most especially those who are innocent. “Human rights are not only for the criminals or dregs of society as some may think or believe. It is more to protect the far too many others who are innocent or turn out to be innocent. Enough already,” he said.

While he agreed that the illegal drug menace had to be stopped, but so too summary executions. "Goodness, we hate drugs too. There should be no two minds about it. Yet the apparent serial summary executions of alleged street drug users or petty drug lords which appear sudden, too contrived and predictable must also stop. The two are not incompatible,” Olalia reasoned.

“It may be long, hard, challenging and frustrating but you can stop one without automatically or instantly doing the other as a practice or policy.”

The Philippine National Police reported that during anti-illegal drug operations from January 1 to June 15, nearly 18,000 suspects were apprehended with 68 other suspects killed. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/DVM, GMA News