Duterte urged to hold persons behind Espinosa death accountable  

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and human rights group Karapatan on Friday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to hold accountable the perpetrators of the death of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

"Human rights law establishes a high standard for state responsibility for deaths and injuries to persons that are under detention," CHR chairperson Chito Gascon told GMA News Online.

"It requires a positive duty not to harm or ensure that no one else can harm anyone that is in custody."

Espinosa, a suspected drug lord, was killed inside his detention cell at the Baybay, Leyte provincial jail after he allegedly fired at the policemen who were about to serve a search warrant on him and another inmate on the wee hours of November 5.

Loopholes in the statements of the policemen during a Senate investigation on Thursday, however, prompted senators to believe Espinosa was a victim of extrajudicial killing.

In his speech upon arriving from his two-day visit to Malaysia, Duterte defended the police, saying he believed the version of events presented by the police during the Senate investigation.

Gascon said by refusing to recognize the inconsistencies in the statements of the policemen, Duterte failed to perform his responsibility as prseident.

"Under whatever circumstances, the State failed in performing its obligation. [Duterte] should no better than to refuse to face the glaring facts of this case," Gascon said.

"We call on him to hold the perpetrators to account," he added.

'Impunity'

Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay, meanwhile, said Duterte's statements "fuel impunity."

"Such statements will be taken as a go-signal for the exoneration of the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and the masterminds of the killing. Such statements fuel impunity, granting credence and legitimacy to every police action in line with the war against drugs," Palabay said in a statement.

Palabay furthered said the killing of Espinosa and Raul Yap, the other inmate, was a "rubout."

According to her, direct witnesses like jail guards and inmates, time stamps, and even the missing CCTV footage of the incident all point to the involvement and accountability of the CIDG-8.

"President Duterte should recognize that the police force that he is relying on for his 'war on drugs' is deeply involved in the the very horror of “narcopolitics” that Duterte keeps talking about," Palabay said.

She urged the president to conduct an independent investigation into the killings, primarily focused on finding the motives for covering up the involvement of government officials and personalities in the illegal trade.

"More than being relieved from their post, the CIDG should be investigated as to who ordered the killing of Espinosa through the said operation and heads must roll," Palabay said. —KBK, GMA News