Militant group condemns killing spree vs drug suspects
A leftist group which has close ties with President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday condemned the extrajudicial killings of hundreds of suspected drug dealers just more than a week after the tough-talking Chief Executive took the reins of government.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said that due process and human rights must prevail.
“Bayan reiterates its opposition to extrajudicial killings and summary executions of suspected drug dealers. Due process and human rights should always be upheld in the conduct of police operations. The summary execution of a suspected drug pusher in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, in broad daylight on a busy street, shows the degree of impunity that persists today,” Reyes said in a statement.
He was referring to the killing of Macario Ignacio, 45, of Bitas village in Cabanatuan City who was shot by a motorcycle-riding gunman in the afternoon of July 6. The incident was caught on a CCTV camera. Local police said that Ignacio was previously linked to illegal drugs and “carnapping” activities.
READ: Drug killings alarm Palace
Reyes urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to determine if the killings were being done by criminal syndicates or were part of legitimate anti-drug operations.
“We call on the authorities to uphold the inaugural message of the President where he declared that his adherence to due process will be uncompromising.”
“More than going after street level dealers, efforts at identifying and prosecuting the protectors of criminal syndicates at the highest levels of government should be intensified,” he said.
READ: Drug-related killings hit 72 since June 30
On Monday, the PNP leadership and the Solicitor General expressed their support for the police force amid concerns about the lengthening list of slain drug dealers and users.
“I am here to indicate the support of the Duterte (administration) for the antidrug campaign. The Office of the Solicitor General is the defender of the Republic of the Philippines and the people of the Philippines. The people of the Philippines has had enough of the drug menace that is corrupting and destroying our youth and society. We will not allow anybody to derail this effort,” Solicitor General Jose Calida said.
Last week, Senator Leila de Lima called for a congressional inquiry into the killings.
PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said that there was no turning back now in the war on drugs and asked critics to file a case if they saw any irregularity in their operations. AJH/CDG/rga
READ: ‘Bato’ on fight vs drugs: Many have already died, do we stop now?
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