PCIJ: DOJ received FOI request on drug war

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) on Saturday maintained that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had received their requests for data on the government’s war on drugs.

Belying the claim of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, the PCIJ said the first request letter was received by the former’s staff at the Office of the Secretary on Aug. 9, 2016 and was forwarded to the DOJ Planning and Management Service headed by OIC Director Ryan Thomas on Aug. 24.

The PCIJ said a follow-up letter from them and FLAG was received by Aguirre’s office last Sept. 1.

The PCIJ was reacting to the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella who, quoting Aguirre, said the DOJ had not received such requests.

The group earlier said it had not received any response from the DOJ, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police on its data requests submitted last Aug. 8 and 9, on the basis of the Freedom of Information order in the executive branch. JE/rga

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