CHR: Duterte statement on opening drug war records a setback to probes

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday lamented a “new roadblock” to investigations into drug war deaths after President Rodrigo Duterte said the police cannot share certain drug-related records to other government agencies due to confidentiality.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier granted the Department of Justice (DOJ) access to its records on drug war deaths to aid an inter-agency review of the Duterte administration’s controversial campaign.

On Monday, however, Duterte said records on the deaths of drug suspects and communist rebels could not be divulged due to “security issues.”

“The recent developments made by DOJ and PNP would have been a start in demonstrating a functional justice system if not for this new roadblock,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement.

“The CHR remains hopeful that [the] government will return to the course of openness and cooperation in improving the human rights situation in the country,” she added.

The PNP had also said it would be up to the DOJ to share the files with the CHR, which Justice Secretary Menardo Guevara said would be involved in the review of drug war deaths “in its capacity as an independent monitoring body."

The CHR said its access to PNP records has remained uncertain.

“In this instance, genuine and straightforward investigations will be the first step in demonstrating sincere commitment to the protection of human rights and the dignity of all,” De Guia said. -MDM, GMA News