Are they the only ones?

After five years, the policeman accused of arresting, torturing, planting evidence, and killing Carl Angelo Arnaiz in 2017 has been convicted. The crime occurred during former president Duterte's bloody campaign against illegal drugs. Police Officer 1 Jeffrey Perez was convicted of the crime of torture, planting evidence, and the murder of Arnaiz, while he was also convicted of the crime of torture against Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman. De Guzman's body was found in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, a month later with 25 stab wounds. His sentence is two terms of life imprisonment. The court also ordered him to pay ?1 million each to the heirs of Arnaiz and De Guzman. Perez's partner, PO1 Ricky Arquilita, was also supposed to be sentenced but died before the decision was issued.

According to the Public Attorney’s Office which represented the families of Arnaiz and De Guzman, they had difficulty with the cases because the PNP didn’t seem to want to cooperate. Remember this happened during the height of Oplan Tokhang when almost everyone killed by the PNP in relation to illegal drugs "fought back". Aside from the case of Perez and Arquilita, there is also the case against three Caloocan policemen who killed Kian delos Santos. They were found guilty of killing Delos Santos, but got away with planting evidence. Even so, they will be imprisoned for 40 years. In my opinion, they should be sentenced to life imprisonment.

But do you believe these are the only two cases of illegal arrest, torture, planting of evidence, and murder that only occurred during Oplan Tokhang and other oplans during Duterte's time? Thousands were killed during that bloody campaign. Because there were witnesses and CCTV footage in both cases, the crimes of these police officers were exposed. But I'm sure there are many more cases like this with no CCTV footage and witnesses fear speaking out. This was the image of the PNP at that time. They are feared more than they are believed to protect and serve.

Why was it was necessary to kill all three victims? They were not a threat to society or to the police. It was proven the narrative of the police was fabricated. Did they just want to be in the news like other police officers who had also killed the so-called "nanlaban"? Did they want to be in the good graces of Duterte? Was there a hidden reward for every kill under Oplan Tokhang? These are the questions I have to ask. These two cases exposed incidents of illegal arrest, torture, planting of evidence, and murder of the innocent. Let's be thankful these monsters are off the streets and locked up for a long time. But are they the only ones?