House opposition asks: Why only 253 cops sued for drug war deaths?

DRUG WAR STAT A drug suspect who allegedly fought it out with police lies dead in Tondo, Manila, in this Aug. 18, 2016 file photo. Several party list representatives are seeking a House inquiry after it was revealed that only 253 police officers out of thousands involved in fatal drug operations had been subject to inquest, a “gross violation” of the police operations manual. —INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition Makabayan bloc is seeking a House investigation into the conduct of the administration’s war on illegal drugs following the discovery that only 253 police officers—out of thousands involved in fatal antidrug operations—had been subjected to inquest for killing suspects.

The bloc, composed of Representatives Ferdinand Gaite, Carlos Zarate and Eufemia Cullamat of Bayan Muna, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, France Castro of ACT Teachers, and Sarah Elago of Kabataan, filed House Resolution No. 440, urging the committee on public order and safety to investigate the Philippine National Police for “gross violation” of its operations manual requiring inquest proceedings for any fatal operation.

PNP manual

According to the Revised PNP Operational Procedures Manual, the team leader of a drug operation that led to a suspect’s death is required to subject the incident to an inquest before the body is removed from the scene.

During the Sept. 13 plenary deliberations on the 2020 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, lawmakers learned that only 103 PNP officers had been charged in court while 150 had undergone inquest out of the 5,793 drug operations in which a suspect was killed.

The figure was less than half of the 594 policemen slapped with administrative charges in connection with the antidrug operations, according to official police records.

‘Breach of procedures’

A criminal offense usually accompanies an administrative charge.

In its resolution, the Makabayan bloc said the House panel should look into the “serious breach of procedures that not only undermines the institution but also resulted in violations of the rights of our people and a breakdown even of law and order.”

A majority of police officers involved in operations that killed more than 6,000 suspects in President Duterte’s war on drugs since 2016 have not been criminally charged, the PNP told House members during last month’s budget deliberations.

Over the same period, five officers entered into an amicable settlement with their accusers, while 14 are still under investigation, the PNP said.