CHR says it will help House quad panel, shares drug war report

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday said it is ready to aid the House of Representatives quad committee and shared the key findings of its 2022 report on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

The CHR said it is “closely monitoring the testimonies and emerging pieces of evidence” from the House probe, which may contribute to its ongoing investigations.

During the quad panel’s hearing on Oct. 11, retired police colonel Royina Garma alleged that former president Rodrigo Duterte and other high-ranking officials during his administration sanctioned covert operations replicating the Davao City model of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) on a national scale.

“The recent revelation of retired police colonel Royina Garma on the ‘reward system’ in the implementation of the anti-drug campaign affirms the findings of the CHR in its report: that police operatives involved in the said incidents are either to be awarded, rewarded, or recognized,” CHR’s statement read.

“We reiterate the urgency of thoroughly investigating this reward system, as it is crucial in understanding the scope and depth of the violations committed during the campaign,” it added.

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READ: Garma says Davao drug war template, rewards system applied in entire PH

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Below is a list of CHR’s key findings from its April 2022 report on the alleged extra-judicial killings during the drug war:

• There is a consistent narrative by law enforcers alleging victims initiated aggression or resisted arrest (nanlaban).
• There is a use of excessive and disproportionate force.
• Targeted victims were mostly civilians killed in uninhabited locations sustaining gunshot wounds in the heads and/or torso.
• There is non-cooperation by the police.
• There is a lack of effective, prompt, and transparent accountability mechanisms to address drug-related killings.

The CHR said it is expecting the House quad panel would validate the reports gathered by the commission.

“More importantly, we are hopeful that the recommendations of the report will be acted by concerned government bodies towards ascertaining justice and preventing similar widespread human rights violations from happening again,” it said.

“In this regard, CHR acknowledges the recent move in the House of Representatives to classify these incidents of killings as heinous crimes as it is a recognition of the grave human rights violations that have transpired, and toward ensuring that justice is served for all the victims and their families,” it added.

The CHR also said it would note the parallel investigation being explored by the Senate.

Moreover, the agency reiterated its call for other concerned agencies to conduct their impartial investigation and stressed the need to ensure the safety of the families of drug war victims and resource persons.

“After all, being given the space to deliver their testimonies and affidavits without any fear of violence, intimidation, or retaliation is the appropriate step towards ending a culture of fear and silence and to encourage more families of victims to seek justice,” the commission added.

The CHR also expressed confidence that justice will be served for the victims and their families.

“We are hopeful that the Quad Committee’s inquiry will lead to tangible progress in advancing justice for the victims of EJKs. Given the considerable challenges the CHR faced during the past administration, we are encouraged that the current socio-political climate offers a more conducive environment for the resolution of these cases,” it said.

“After years of raising concerns over the anti-drug campaign and relentless call for accountability, the CHR welcomes these promising developments that may contribute to the long-awaited pursuit of justice,” it added.

According to reports, the war on drugs left at least 6,000 people dead; however, human rights groups and advocates claim that the number may have reached 20,000.

Duterte and his former police chief and now Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa were among the personalities mentioned in the crimes against humanity complaint pending before the International Criminal Court.

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