CHR mulls completion of EJK probe by end of the year

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is eyeing to wrap up its years-long investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war by the end of the year.

CHR Chairman Richard Palpal-Latoc on Monday said the commission has motu proprio investigated at least 4,000 cases of EJK-related deaths from 2016 to 2022.

“We investigate these cases to determine human rights violations,” Palpa-Latoc told the House QuadComm during the continuation of the hearings on extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and illegal drugs.

“Sa ngayon, majority of these cases ay 'di pa tapos ang investigation because of the lack of cooperation from the PNP to share information regarding the cases,” he added.

(As of now, investigation for majority of these cases is not yet finished because of the lack of cooperation from the PNP to share information regarding the cases.)

Palpal-Latoc also said the CHR experienced being denied access to evidence to EJK-related cases. However, he said newly installed PNP Chief Police General Nicolas Torre expressed his commitment to cooperate with the CHR probe.

“The Commission has experienced denial on different reasons by the PNP — access to records, police reports, and other pieces of evidence,” said Palpal-Latoc.

Data from the PNP indicated there were 6,000 deaths during operations under the war on drugs of the Duterte administration.

“After the hearing, the chief PNP directed all units involved where the human rights is asking for the case folders of all these cases to cooperate, to provide. We already given orders in this regards,” PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) chief Police Brigadier General Matthew Baccay said.

“The directive is already there. Should any of our units refuse, please inform us,” he added.

Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante urged coordination between the two government bodies.

“[Dapat] maging open tayo sa lahat ng ating pag-iimbestiga sapagkat napakatagal ng panahon eh. Pinag-uusapan natin ang alleged EJKs na nangyari from 2016 to 2022. 2025 na ngayon. Three years na 'yan. Dapat magkaroon na tayo ng closure tungkol dito,” Abante said.

([We should be] open to all investigations because it has already been a long time. We are talking of alleged EJKs that happened from 2016 to 2022. It's already 2025. Three years have passed. We should already have closure regarding this.)

In March, former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by Philippine authorities on the basis of the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged human rights abuses during his war on drugs.

At least 6,200 suspects were killed in police operations based on government records under the controversial war on drugs. Data from human rights groups, however, said the actual death toll could be from 12,000 to 30,000. — BAP/KG, GMA Integrated News