PNP submits to DOJ records of 53 drug killings

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) records of 53 police operations that resulted in the deaths of drug suspects.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said yesterday they submitted copies of the documents on Wednesday, as requested by the DOJ. The PNP was supposed to submit 61 case folders but the submission of records of the eight other cases was put on hold due to pending appeals from the respondents.

“At least they already have copies of what they wish to review, and it’s up to them to match them against their records,” he told reporters in a phone interview in mixed English and Filipino.

The submission of case folders, Eleazar said, is part of his agreement with Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra whose department is conducting a probe on alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) perpetrated by police in the conduct of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

Eleazar said the cases they have submitted have already been resolved by the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) which saw lapses on the part of police officers involved in anti-drug operations.

Eleazar earlier assured Guevarra of the PNP’s full cooperation in the DOJ’s investigation, as he vowed to go tough on rogue police officers.

“Some say there were lapses, abuses. But they’re only reported in media,” he said, referring to some of the cases.

He urged people with allegations against erring police officers to come forward and file complaint with the IAS.

Secretary Guevarra on Tuesday said, “With the exception of eight administrative cases that the PNP-IAS (Internal Affairs Service) has not completely disposed of, 53 case files were delivered to the DOJ.” He said they would decide how to proceed after studying the contents.

Guevarra said that since they began review of PNP drug war cases, President Duterte had not intervened nor called his attention on efforts to determine if there were extrajudicial killings.

“I think we just need to understand what the President really wanted to say. You see, I spoke about the drug war review last year before the United Nations, he didn’t say anything to restrain it. I submitted an initial report to the President and spoke again before the Human Rights Council last February, noting certain lapses in police operations,” he said.

He said the DOJ and PNP agreed to share information on administrative cases filed against erring police officers, and “up to that point, the President has not raised any objection.”

He surmised that the President might have been hesitant to release data on the network of drug syndicates, their protectors and financiers, foreign suppliers and other classified information.

Meanwhile, Sen. Leila de Lima has maintained that President Duterte’s refusal to release all records from his war on drugs for scrutiny is unsurprising, “considering that he is afraid of the truth and that his administration has so much to hide.”

De Lima said the fact that the Department of Justice had to ask permission to investigate the records of the Philippine National Police is an anomaly itself.

No one is surprised that the President would hide the records of his drug war under the cover of national security, “not only because it was convenient for him but also because he and his government have much to hide. Not to mention he has a penchant for ‘bravado’ and is a chronic liar,” she said.

“Why is it necessary for the DOJ to seek permission to investigate the crime that took place even though the PNP is the culprit? Democracy demands accountability. Every Filipino has the right to be given justice no matter who else is guilty,” she added.

In his taped briefing that aired last May 31, Duterte claimed his government cannot release all records from his controversial anti-drugs campaign for scrutiny because it would supposedly compromise national security. – Evelyn Macairan, Cecille Suerte Felipe