PNP says law is followed in probe of recent killings of rights activists

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday has assured that it is complying with the rule of law in its investigations into the recent attacks against human rights activists.

The PNP made the assurance as it denied reports that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the national police organization to withhold information in its ongoing investigation on the killings of human rights activists.

“In the conduct of investigation on crime incidents, the PNP strictly adheres to all procedures which are covered by the Rules on Evidence and the Data Privacy Law mandating the protection of identities while the investigation is pending,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement.

“Once the case is filed with the prosecutor, the police is at no liberty to disclose any and all details without clearance from the assigned prosecutor,” Banac added.

Earlier, Malacañang also denied that it had directed the PNP not to release to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) data on the killings of human rights activists.

Banac, meanwhile, said the CHR is “free” to launch its own probe and gather evidence as it is independent and separate from PNP’s standard protocols.

Rights group questions PNP, Palace

Karapatan, a group of human rights activists meanwhile challenged the statements of the PNP and the Palace on the denial of information on the investigations on the recent murder of human rights defenders.

“If what (presidential spokesman) Harry Roque and the PNP say is true, then where is PNP’s own report on the investigations to ‘unmask those behind these brazen killings?’ Why hasn’t it been submitted to the CHR and why is the PNP insistent on refusing to cooperate with the CHR in their investigations?” Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said in another statement.

“Did they submit this report to United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet? Why haven’t they made public the contents of this report?” she added.

Palabay also said without a substantial response from state forces, it would prove “the conclusion that State forces are indeed accountable for the killings.”

/MUF