Will he share all drug war files with CHR? Remulla says yes

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla on Wednesday said he will share all drug war findings and files with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

“Yes,” Remulla said in a press conference when asked for a categorical answer on the matter.

He earlier said law enforcement agents are required to turn over the case, adding “there [are] no if-and-buts there.”

When asked about the question of former senator Leila De Lima on whether the current administration is prepared to hold “the former president” accountable, Remulla said they will hold individuals accountable whoever they may be.

“Kahit sino pa. Wala naman tayo sinasanto eh. Kahit sino pa ‘yan. Bakit ninyo ba sasabihin na hindi namin kayang gawin itong bagay na ito. Eh, nasubukan ninyo na ba ang aming will para maayos lahat ‘yan,” he said.

(Whoever that is. We are not placing anyone on a pedestal. Why would you say that we cannot do this? Have you felt our will to fix everything.)

Meanwhile, Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said of the 52 drug war cases published by the agency, six have been dismissed while seven are undergoing case build-up.

The DOJ has reviewed 352 cases where individuals have been killed during the police's anti-drug operations since 2016.

“You know the important thing in criminal justice is the certainty of punishment and if we are able to get the convictions of these seven cases then we have attained our purpose,” Andres said.

For his part, Remulla attributed the problem to the lack of witnesses.

“There is nothing to start with. How can you start with a case, can you file a case when you have no person to accuse and you have no suspects to accost. So these are unsolved cases. That’s why we need witnesses,” he said.

He also said the DOJ will take care of witnesses in extrajudicial killings cases.

“If there are witnesses who want to come forward. I can assure you that we would take care of the witnesses and give them protection. And that’s what’s needed. We have a Witness Protection Program under our government right now,” he said.

“For those who really want to come forward to be a witness in criminal prosecution involving what you call extrajudicial killings, then please come forward. We will welcome these people who wish to put forward their testimonies,” he added.—AOL, GMA News