PNP gives DOJ access to files of questionable cases on war on drugs

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine National Police has finally given the Department of Justice (DOJ) access to 61 cases investigation showed that its personnel has been found to have administrative and criminal liability related to the “war on drugs” operation.

Guevarra said the 61 cases are the result of the investigation conducted by the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) “where clear liability was established.”

Guevarra and Philippine National Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar met last Friday where they talked about active collaboration in the review of illegal drug operations where deaths occurred and in the investigation of alleged extra-judicial killings and related cases.

“General Eleazar expressed his sincere intention to cooperate with the DOJ in order to remove or discipline wrongdoers among the ranks of the police and thereby uplift the image of the PNP as protectors of the people,” Guevarra said.

However, Human Rights Watch Senior Philippines Researcher Carlos Conde said the 61 cases “is a woefully paltry number considering that more than 7,000 killings by the police have been officially recorded.”

“Instead of spinning this as moving the needle for accountability, he should convince his president to crack the whip on the police to force it to be more forthcoming and to be more serious about accountability,” Conde said in a statement.

But Guevarra said granting the DOJ free access to records of its investigation on the 61 cases is significant because it “something that did not happen in previous years, thereby making our review rather difficult.”

The 61 cases will be integrated into the DOJ-led review of the war on drugs.

Last February, speaking before the Human Rights Council, Guevarra said that initial findings of their review of drug war-related deaths showed that there were many instances where the police failed to follow standard protocols in the coordination of drug raids and in the processing of crime scenes.

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