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Robredo urges PNP to address vigilante killings: Dugo ito sa kamay niyo


Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to solve vigilante killings that she believes are linked to the government's controversial war on illegal drugs.

"Iyong panawagan ko sa PNP, 'di ba kargo niyo pa din kahit vigilante killings? Obligasyon niyo na maresolba ito, kasi kapag hindi niyo ito maresolba, dugo pa din ito sa kamay ninyo," said Robredo, a vocal critic of the Duterte administration's drug war due to its high death toll.

Robredo made the pronouncement during her attendance to a forum on community-based drug rehabilitation program in Caloocan City, considered a hot spot of police anti-drug operations.

After the forum, Robredo — who was fired as co-chair of the government's anti-drug body 19 days after she was appointed — also paid a visit to the community-based drug rehabilitation center inside Our Lady of Grace Parish Church.

Robredo said she was informed by residents in the area that vigilantes struck again the previous night.

More disturbing information also reached Robredo while she was in the area.

"Ngayong umaga lang, iyong report sa atin, sa isang funeral parlor dito—as I speak—mayroong 20 na unidentified bodies na hindi nga malibing dahil walang mga papel," she said.

"Sino ba itong mga pinapatay? Iyong mga walang kalaban-laban na mga mahihirap? Nakita iyong effectiveness ng programa dito sa community-based drug rehab —na hindi mo kailangang patayin kasi gumagaling sila. Kailangan lang nila ng tulong."

Based on government records, over 6,700 drug suspects have been killed under the police’s anti-drug operations under the Duterte administration. The number, however, does not include those killed by unidentified gunmen.

Based on a Social Weather Stations survey released this week, at least 76% of Filipinos believe that the police's anti-drug operations are marred with human rights abuses.

Robredo has called the Duterte administration's drug war a "failure." —KBK, GMA News

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