Palace open to probe alleged drug killings under Marcos admin if there’s evidence

Malacañang said Friday the government will investigate the alleged drug-related killings during the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. if there will be evidence presented on the matter.

This, as Atty. Nicholas Kaufman, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC), questioned if anyone had thought of investigating Marcos for the alleged vigilante killings that continued even after Duterte stepped down from office.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that Marcos is firm on his “bloodless” war on drugs campaign, emphasizing that the President will ensure accountability for any abuses under his administration.

“If there are pieces of evidence that can be submitted, then that’s the right time to investigate this matter. Hindi po gugustuhin ng Pangulo na mabahiran ang administrasyon na ito ng madugong extrajudicial killing dahil hindi po iyan ang kaniyang legasiya,” she said in a press briefing.

(The President doesn’t want this administration to be stained by the bloody extrajudicial killings because that is not his legacy.)

Pressed if the Palace will order a motu proprio investigation on the matter, Castro said, “Saan po nanggagaling ang impormasyon, kung sino po ang nagsabi niyan, magbigay agad sila ng kanilang mga detalye sa PNP, CIDG, NBI, para ito po ay maimbestigahan.”

(Whoever said that and gave that information should immediately give details to the PNP, CIDG, NBI, so that it can be investigated.)

“Hindi po kailangang mag-utos pa ang Pangulo. Trabaho po ito ng mga investigative bodies natin para kung sino iyong dapat managot, dapat na managot,” she added.

(There is no need for the President to give orders. This is the job of our investigative bodies to ensure that the perpetrators will be held accountable.)

Kaufman on Thursday cited a report of the Dahas Project by the University of the Philippines (UP), which showed that 160 out of 342 killings were at the hands of state agents during the first year of the Marcos administration.

He said this increased from 342 to 362 killings from July 2023 to June 2024. The report stated that state agents were responsible for 34% of the killings.

Duterte’s lawyer thus questioned why the representatives of the drug war victims were not clamoring for accountability for the killings.

Castro, in return, asked why Kaufman is seemingly fixated on Marcos when he has to defend Duterte.

“Pag-amin ba iyon na talagang may patayan sa panahon ni dating Pangulong Duterte? Unang-una, nakakapagtaka na ang kliyente po niya rito ay ang dating pangulong Duterte pero bakit ang mata niya naka-focus kay Pangulong Marcos Jr.? Depensa po ba niya ito? Kasi kung depensa po niya ito, nakakatawa,” she said.

(Is that an admission that there really were killings during the administration of former president Duterte? First of all, it is surprising that former president Duterte is his client, but why is he focused on President Marcos Jr.? Is this his defense? Because if it is so, it is funny.)

Marcos earlier said that his administration has been addressing the drug problem in a "peaceful manner," noting that its good results are becoming evident.

No interim release talks

Castro also maintained that should Kaufman go to the Philippines, the government will not be discussing with him anything regarding the petition for Duterte’s interim release.

“First of all, I am not inviting him. If ever, everybody is welcome to see the beauty of our country. Welcome lahat ng tourists, lahat ng turista, pati pamilya kasama iyan. And if he will be coming to the Philippines, I am more than happy to treat him, buy him balut, bagoong, kwek-kwek, IUD, adidas,” she said.

(First of all, I am not inviting him. If ever, everybody is welcome to see the beauty of our country. All tourists are welcome, including their families. And if he will be coming to the Philippines, I am more than happy to treat him, buy him balut, bagoong, kwek-kwek, IUD, adidas.)

“But I will not discuss about the interim release because it has already been dissolved by the ICC. So, pag-uusapan lang namin ang ganda ng (we will only talk about the beauty of) Palawan, El Nido, Manila Zoo, lahat po iyan. Iyon lang po (that’s all),” she added.

Duterte is currently facing a confirmation of charges hearing at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands for the charge of crimes against humanity over alleged extrajudicial killings during his administration's drug war.

The final hearing will be held on Friday, February 27. The defense, prosecution, and the representatives of the victims will make their closing statements. The ICC will also review the detention of Duterte. — BAP, GMA Integrated News