Documentary on drug war up for Oscar consideration

MANILA, Philippines — The documentary film on the implementation of the drug war in Caloocan is in the running in the US Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature.

“On the President’s Orders,” directed by James Jones and Olivier Sarbil, was among 159 documentary features submitted for consideration at the Oscars.

Jones said he hoped the Philippine government would be “concerned” their film will be used as evidence against President Duterte in the crimes against humanity complaint before the International Criminal Court (ICC), even as they may not be “thrilled” the film has been submitted to the Oscars.

“Duterte’s government condemned the film without even seeing it. They may not be thrilled that it’s in the running for the Oscars, but they should perhaps be more concerned that it has now been submitted to the ICC as evidence,” Jones said.

During its premiere at the University of the Philippines Film Institute last September, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno said the film could be entered as evidence because the admissions of abuse in drug operations came from the cops themselves.

He said the film documented “40 to 50” violations in police operations, mostly affecting slum dwellers in Caloocan.

The filmmakers immersed themselves in operations led by then SWAT leader Capt. Rengie Deimos, who confronted urban poor members as young as 13 years old and suspected them of being troublemakers in the area.?

Then jail warden Sgt. Adolfo Agustin was also interviewed and justified the brute manner of hitting detainees in custody.

Deimos was also recorded in an off-camera interview on what he knew about some police officers’ involvement in drive-by shooting against drug pushers and users.

The film documented the spike of shooting incidents of mostly drug suspects during the time of then police colonel Jemar Modequillo which led to the latter’s relief.

The film was also shown before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) before it voted last July to adopt a resolution calling on UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to prepare a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the Philippines.

The Philippine government had retaliated by shunning all loans and grants from the 18 countries that voted for the UN resolution.