CHR says asking PNP officials to resign only the first step

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Having police colonels and generals tender courtesy resignations in an attempt to weed out officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade is only a first step, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reminded the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday.

In a statement, CHR said that while it acknowledge Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.’s reasons for requesting the PNP officials’ courtesy resignations, accountability must still be ensured later on, and that it must not remove any legal or criminal liability.

“While we acknowledge Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.’s expeditious approach, it must be stressed that accountability must be carried out to its fullest extent,” CHR said.

“A resignation or removal from office may only be the first step in the pursuit of justice, and not an omission of liability. In this case, if allegations are proven to be true, criminal and administrative charges should be filed against erring police officers of the [PNP],” it added.

Last Wednesday, Abalos made a surprise announcement, saying that a five-person committee would be tasked to review the profiles of police colonels and generals.  The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief said that they arrived at the decision because they fear high-ranking officials may be involved in the drug trade already.

Then on Thursday, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. announced that he and his command group have submitted their courtesy resignations, urging other officials to do the same.

CHR noted that they acknowledge the changes that the current administration is trying to implement regarding the drug war — which is a shift from being merely a police matter to demand reduction and rehabilitation.

Despite this, CHR said that they would still like to emphasize that due process must always prevail.

“We note the DILG’s Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program, which Secretary Abalos described in a statement last November 2022 as ‘a different approach that will work within the framework of the law and with respect for human rights and with focus on rehabilitation and socio-economic development’,” CHR said.

“To this end, CHR underscores the principles of due process and rule of law. Parallel to the adoption of a human-rights based means to drug recovery must be the imposition of criminal-legal sanctions against guilty perpetrators. When lawlessness is dealt with according to law, it demonstrates a robust and working justice system in the country,” it added.

Aside from asking officials to resign, CHR said the DILG and PNP can conduct investigations of controversial drug war killings during the last administration, to ensure accountability even for past actions.

“The Commission urges the DILG and the PNP to investigate and file more cases similar (to) that of Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz, and Reynaldo ‘Kulot’ de Guzman. Only through proactive and systemic action against corruption can more citizens feel assured that the law is also for the marginalised and the poor; equally enforced and independently adjudicated,” CHR said.

“In that regard, CHR remains open to collaborate with law enforcement agencies regarding the progress of cases involving police officers. We likewise express our continued commitment to improve the human rights education and training programs for the security sector,” it added.

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JPV