Robredo calls for probe into drug-related extrajudicial killings

Vice President Leni Robredo. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA—Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday voiced her concern over the “growing culture of vigilantism and violence” in the new administration’s fight against illegal drugs and crimes, noting that over a hundred cases of drug-related killings have been reported in less than a month.

In a statement, Robredo called for an investigation into the reported cases of killings of suspected drug pushers.

“While we are one with the fight against drugs, we are concerned with the growing culture of vigilantism and violence. We hope that the war is not done at the expense of the innocent and defenseless,” the Vice President said.

“We encourage authorities concerned to look into these cases. If there is really culpability, then justice requires that appropriate cases be filed and that those proven to be accountable be punished,” she stressed.

READ: Leni joins Cabinet meeting on drug war

Before she joined politics in 2013, Robredo worked as a lawyer for fishermen, farmers, and others in the marginalized sector in the Bicol province. She was also a lawyer at the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) for the indigents in Naga City while her husband, the late Jesse Robredo, served as mayor.

Robredo continued to express support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s “declaration that the fight against drugs and crime must be done with an uncompromising exercise of the rule of law.”

“Since the President is a lawyer and former prosecutor, we trust that he will do what is appropriate,” Robredo said. CDG

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