PNP chief Eleazar maintains cops not involved in EJKs

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday maintained the allegation that police officers were involved in unlawful killings amid the government's war against illegal drugs was untrue.

President Rodrigo Duterte has a marching order to do what is right and legal during anti-criminality operations, but the lives of police officers should also be protected, according to Eleazar.

"Tungkol naman sa inaakusahan ang ating pulis ay wala pong katotohanan 'yan. Laging malinaw naman ang sinasabi ng ating Pangulo and on the series of conferences I attended ay laging sinasabi niya na gawin 'yung tama pero sinasabi rin niya na dapat proteksyunan ang ating sarili," Eleazar said during a press conference in Camp Crame.

(On the allegation against our police officers, this was not true. Our President's directive has always been clear. He said we should do what is right but we should also protect ourselves during operations.)

The PNP chief made the comment after International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda sought permission to investigate the killings in the Philippines, which were being linked to the anti-illegal drugs campaign.

Citing her preliminary investigation, Bensouda said "members of the Philippine National Police, and others acting in concert with them, have unlawfully killed between several thousand and tens of thousands of civilians during that time (July 1, 2016 to March 16, 2019)."

According to Eleazar, the PNP will seek guidance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government regarding the matter. But, presidential spokesman Harry Roque already said the Duterte administration would not cooperate in the probe because the Philippines is no longer a member of the ICC.

He said that drug war documents would be made available to the Department of Justice for the conduct of a probe on cases that supposedly have lapses.

Eleazar said a total of 53 documents have been turned over to the DOJ.

"With the other cases that we have in the same manner wala po kaming problema since we believe that definitely the DOJ has the imprimatur of the President to conduct its review kaya kami naman wala kaming tinatago sa mga dokumento na 'yan kaya ipapakita po namin sa DOJ," he explained.

(We have no problem with giving access to DOJ since the DOJ has the imprimatur of the President to conduct its review, we have nothing to hide in these drug war documents so we will show it to the DOJ.)

"But outside of DOJ, nasa chain of command tayo and we will seek guidance through the SILG (Secretary of the Interior and Local Government) but with regards to the DOJ, available po 'yan," Eleazar added.

(Outside of the DOJ, we are under a chain of command and we will seek guidance through the SILG, but with regards to the DOJ, it's available.)

No policy tolerating slays

Meanwhile, the Dangerous Drugs Board also insisted that there is no policy permitting, tolerating, and condoning killings and other human rights violations in relation to the drug war.

"As the agency tasked to formulate policies on drug prevention and control, the DDB guarantees that all of its issuances are supported by evidence-based information and guided by best practices from regional and international counterparts," the DDB said in a separate statement.

"Policy recommendations and guidelines on drug prevention and control instituted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime including those from the International Narcotics Control Board are also espoused in anti-drug policies which are in adherence to international commitments in the spirit of regional cooperation," it added.

The agency also mentioned that other agencies of the government were tasked to implement initiatives to cut the supply of and demand for drugs.

The DDB said policies on the drug war have reinforced the sense of accountability among frontliners and duty bearers.

"Cases filed against erring officers are being dealt with according to the provisions of the law with corresponding sanctions and penalties as prescribed by due process," the DDB said.

Government data showed that since June 2016 until the end of April this year, security forces have killed 6,117 drug suspects in sting operations.

However, rights groups, both local and international, have said the number of slays could reach over 20,000.—AOL, GMA News