Aquino urged: Probe drug killings

INCOMING Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian          Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net

INCOMING Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday urged the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Philippine National Police’s internal affairs department to look into the spate of police killings of drug suspects.

And he wants President Aquino, who is still Chief Executive, to “take the lead” in the investigation despite the fact that Mr. Aquino is stepping down on Thursday.

“They should see if there is a violation of the law and due process,” Gatchalian insisted.

Gatchalian said the deaths of drug suspects which he noted now numbered 51 since May should all be investigated.

“We just can’t say (the drug suspects) fought (and then were killed by the police) and that is the end of that,” Gatchalian told reporters at the Senate where he attended an orientation for new senators.

He said the investigation should proceed and “put closure to what has happened.”

People should not accept their deaths this way, according to Gatchalian, who underscored the need for the respect of due process and the law.

As a deterrent

Gatchalian had said during the election campaign that he   favored the reimposition of the death penalty for big-time syndicate leaders to serve as a deterrent for foreign drug lords to come here and operate.

Reminded of the all-out war against drugs by the incoming administration, he said the police should still follow the law and due process.

“It’s not because there is a new pronouncement that you change things and neglect the law,” Gatchalian said.

Last month, PNP officials attributed the intensified antidrug operations to the “motivation” and “policy direction” from President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to step up the war on narcotics.

The PNP had said that from Jan. 1 to May 9, there were 13,920 suspects arrested  and 39 more killed in antidrug operations nationwide.

After the elections, from May 10 to June 15, there were 3,760 suspects arrested  and 29 killed, he added.

The monthly average from the preelection period he cited was 3,480 for arrests and nine for kills.

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