Dahas Project says Kaufman misinterpreted data on drug-related killings under Marcos

The Dahas Project of the Third World Studies Center at the University of the Philippines (UP) clarified that while deaths linked to the anti-drug campaign have decreased under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., they have not stopped.

According to Joseph Morong’s "24 Oras" report on Friday, the group was reacting to remarks made by Nicholas Kaufman, former President Rodrigo Duterte's defense counsel, before the International Criminal Court, where he described the drug-related killings under Marcos as “sky-high." He then questioned why the representatives of alleged victims of the Duterte administration's drug war were not clamoring for accountability for the killings under the current administration.

Joel Ariate Jr., a university researcher affiliated with the project, rejected Kaufman's claim.

“Ang hindi namin matanggap ay yung sabihin niyang sky high yung numero. Kasi malinaw kung ginamit niya talaga ng makatotohanan yung ulat na gawa namin ay pinapakita nga ang patuloy na pagbaba ng numero, patuloy na pagbaba ng bahagdan ng participation ng kapulisan dun sa mga pagpatay na ito,” Ariate said.

(What we cannot accept is his claim that the numbers are sky-high. It is clear that if he truly used our report truthfully, it actually shows a continued decrease in the numbers and a continued decrease in the proportion of police participation in these killings.)

Based on Dahas Project monitoring of media reports, more than 300 drug-related killings are recorded annually under the Marcos administration. This compares with more than 500 killings recorded in the final year of the administration of Rodrigo Duterte in 2021.

Research by GMA Integrated News also found a significant difference when comparing the number of deaths during the first three years of the Duterte and Marcos administrations, based on data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

According to the Dahas Project, there is a clear distinction between the drug war approaches of the Duterte and Marcos administrations.

“Yung panahon ng Duterte administration ay talagang naging napakatalamak. Gustong mag-proceed ng administrasyong Marcos sa kanyang drug war via propaganda. Ang naging spin ng administrasyon ay sabihing wala naman na talagang namamatay, which is utterly factually wrong. Nagpapatuloy. Mas konti lang pero nagpapatuloy,” Ariate said.

(During the Duterte administration, it was truly widespread. The Marcos administration wants to proceed with its drug war via propaganda. The administration’s spin has been to say that no one is really dying anymore, which is utterly factually wrong. It continues. There are fewer, but it continues.)

The Dahas Project is challenging the government to release more comprehensive official data and to continue investigating the killings.

“Hanggat hindi bumababa sa talagang totoo ang bloodless drug war ito, kinakailangan patuloy natin itong tutukan. Kasi yung pagkarami-raming pagpatay at itong kumukunting pagpatay, pagpatay pa rin pareho,” Ariate said.

(As long as this so-called bloodless drug war is not truly bloodless, we must continue to monitor it. Because whether there are many killings or fewer killings, they are still killings all the same.)

Palace response

Malacañang responded by reiterating that Marcos does not support violent methods in combating illegal drugs.

“Ang Pangulo alam po natin ayaw po ng marahas na paglaban sa iligal na droga. Kung ito po ay mabibigyan ng ebidensya at meron talagang dapat na mapanagot, ang PNP po, CIDG, NBI, kinakailangang mag-imbestiga rito kung mayroong sapat na ebidensya. Hindi po palalagpasin ng Pangulo ang mga abusado,” said Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press briefing.

(We know that the President does not want a violent fight against illegal drugs. If there is evidence and there are those who must be held accountable, the PNP, CIDG, and NBI are required to investigate if there is sufficient evidence. The President will not allow abuses to go unpunished.)

The Palace also emphasized that due process is being observed in the current anti-drug campaign.

“Even before, ang sabi ng Pangulo, walang dugong dadanak. Hindi po niya ginugusto ang extrajudicial killings. Kailangan madinig din po ang mga taong inaakusahan. Hindi po kinakailangang ipapatay agad nang hindi sila nadidinig. Hindi po yan at wala po sa konstitusyon natin ang salitang 'death penalty.' Hindi po ito pinapatupad sa bansa natin,” Castro added.

(Even before, the President said no blood will be shed. He does not want extrajudicial killings. Those accused must also be heard. They do not need to be killed immediately without being heard. That is not in our Constitution, and the death penalty is not implemented in our country.)

The Palace earlier said it was open to an investigation into alleged drug-related killings under the Marcos administration if supported by evidence. —Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News