Kin of drug war victims urge SC anew to declare drug war unconstitutional

Some families of drug war victims on Friday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to resolve a pending petition seeking to declare Oplan Double Barrel, the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign, unconstitutional.

In a manifestation and urgent motion for resolution, the petitioners asked the SC to declare that the consolidated petitions continue to present an actual and justiciable controversy and have not been rendered moot and academic.

They also asked the SC to issue a writ of amparo, which they first requested in 2017.

Aside from this, the petitioners asked the SC to declare Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016 or Project Double Barrel as unconstitutional, invalid, illegal, and unforceable.

“‘Kasi hindi po talaga inano ‘yun eh, hindi pa winidraw ‘yung CMC 16-2016. Inamyendahan lang ng CMC 1-2017 kaya pwede pa po itong gamitin ng mga kapulisan natin para po sa kanilang operasyon,” Center Law Executive Director Gilbert Andres said in an ambush interview.

(Because it was never really removed. CMC 16-2016 was never withdrawn. It was only amended by CMC 1-2017, so our police can still use it for their operations.)

“Kaya mahalagang talagang ideklarang labag sa Saligang Batas ang war on drugs para hindi na po ito maulit,” he added.

(That is why it is important to declare the war on drugs unconstitutional so that it will never happen again.)

Andres said that though SC’s possible decision may strengthen their case before the International Criminal Court, these are two separate cases.

“Mapapalakas po. Pero talagang separate po sila,” he said.

(It can strengthen it, but they are separate cases.)

In their petition, the petitioners said that the declaration by the SC will lend credence to the assertion that the country has a working judicial system.

“Only through such a definitive ruling can this High Court fully discharge its sacred mandate, vindicate the Constitution, and ensure that never again shall the fundamental right to life, liberty, and security, of every Filipino be sacrificed at the alter of violent and oppressive governance,” it said. —VAL, GMA News