Only 3 prosecutions, convictions for drug war-related EJK since 2016 — US report

EJK VICTIM | Jennelyn Olaires weeps beside her partner, alleged drug pusher Michael Siaron, 30, a pedicab driver who was shot and killed by unidentified suspects in July 2016. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — There have been only three prosecutions and convictions for extrajudicial killings in connection to the war on drugs since 2016, a report noted.

The 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, published by the United States (US) on its Department of State website on Monday (US time), showed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) were recorded to commit “arbitrary or unlawful killings” relating to the anti-drug operations.

“Impunity was a significant problem in the security forces, particularly in the PNP. Local and international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch described widespread impunity for killings,” the report read.

“There were no prosecutions or convictions for extrajudicial killings in the year to October and just three since the start of the drug war in 2016,” it added.

Citing data, the report said that 321 police officers were administratively charged with killings during anti-drug stings from January to July last year — 233 personnel were referred to PNP Disciplinary Authority, four were suspended, and 229 were absolved.

Authorities have conducted about 15,000 operations from January to May last year in a bid to rid the country of illegal narcotics, government figures stated.

The PNP Internal Affairs Service looked into 74 assassinations during anti-drug stings from January to July 2022.

From July 1 to November 7 last year, a total of 46 suspects were killed during operations.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) probed 111 complaints of supposed extrajudicial or politically motivated killings — allegedly perpetrated by PNP officers and insurgents, among others — until August of 2022.

The report, meanwhile, said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Center for Law of Armed Conflict did not receive any accusations for extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, or other rights abuses among its members from January to October 2022.

The CHR, however, listed nine cases involving 41 persons victimized by abduction and forced disappearance from January to July last year.

In 2016, then President Rodrigo Duterte launched an anti-illegal drug campaign in the country.

Government data showed that there are 6,248 drug war fatalities as of April 2022. But, human rights organizations’ figures are significantly higher at over 20,000.

Duterte and then PNP chief and incumbent Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa are currently under scrutiny of the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity.

JMS