Robredo: DOJ findings on 52 drug ops deaths only confirm ‘many lapses’ in drug war

Vice President Leni Robredo talks about current issues during the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL on Oct. 24

MANILA, Philippines — The findings of the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the 52 drug war cases under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte only confirm that there are lapses which the public has known for long, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday.

Based on its report, the DOJ contradicted police’s claim of “nanlaban” or the victims fighting back, leading to their deaths.

“Actually, hindi pa tapos ‘yung investigation ng DOJ pero parang ‘yung mga initial findings, cino-confirm niya lang ‘yung alam nating matagal na — na marami talagang lapses,” Robredo said during the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL.

(Actually, the DOJ’s investigation is not yet done but the initial findings confirm what we know for long — that there are many lapses.)

Despite only reviewing 52 cases out of the thousands of drug war victims, Robredo said that it is still good to serve justice to the drug war casualties.

“Marami talagang ginawa na hindi naaayon sa batas. So, mabuti na ginagawa ito ng DOJ pero alam natin na libo-libo ‘yung naging biktima at ngayon, kaunti pa lang ‘yung nire-review. Pero mabuti at nire-review,” the vice president said.

(Many things were done against the law. So, it is good that the DOJ is reviewing it, but we know that there are thousands of victims, and now, only a few are under probe. But it is good that they are reviewing it.)

“Kasi ito man lang, sana mabigyan ng katarungan. Sana mabigyan ng katarungan ‘yung mga namatay. Mahalaga sa mga naiwan nila na maayos ‘yung datos tungkol sa sino ang pumatay, bakit pinatay, ano talaga ‘yung tunay na circumstances ng pagkamatay, at kung may mali na ginawa, kung biktima talaga sila ng extrajudicial killings na mapanagot. Mapanagot kung sino ‘yung gumawa n’on sa kanila,” she added.

(I hope that this will serve justice to those killed. It is important to the bereaved families to have good data about who the killer was, why the victims were killed, what are the real circumstances of their deaths. And if there are wrongdoings, if they are victims of extrajudicial killings, suspects should be accountable.)

Earlier, Duterte slammed critics anew for failing to see the “other side” of the drug war campaign, saying there are other casualties aside from the alleged victims.

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