SC justices tell gov’t to submit reports on slays amid war on drugs

Supreme Court justices on Tuesday ordered the government to submit reports pertaining to the police’s campaign against illegal drugs.

During the oral arguments on the consolidated petitions against the war on drugs, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio asked Solicitor General Jose Calida to provide reports on the 3,806 people who were killed in supposedly legitimate police drug operations from July 1, 2016 to November 30, 2017.

Carpio also asked for reports on the so-called “deaths under investigation" or cases of killings with still unknown  assailants.

Specifically, Carpio wanted to know the personal details of those killed, place and date of drug operations, the leaders and members of the operating teams, pre and post-operation plans, names of barangay officials and media present during the operation and whether a warrant was issued.

Associate Justice Marvic Leonen hoped that the OSG report distinguish the kinds of drugs that are involved.

For his part, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa asked the government to submit reports on the 25 individuals killed in a police operation in San Andres Bukid, Manila.

The supposed drug killings in San Andres form basis of the petition filed by several members of a religious order and residents who asked the SC to issue a writ of amparo in order to protect them from the alleged harassment of the members of the Manila Police District.

The other petition, meanwhile, was filed by alleged drug war victims who challenged the constitutionality of the Philippine National Police Command Memorandum Circular (CMC) No. 16 – 2016 or Oplan Double Barrel and Department of Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular 2017-112, which establishes a system of anonymous reporting of suspected criminals. —NB, GMA News