A SENATE panel ruled out any proof of state-sponsored killings under the intensified anti-drug campaign under the administration of President Duterte.
The panel said there was also no evidence on the existence of the so-called vigilante group Davao Death Squad (DDS), and Duterte’s alleged hand in the killings of suspected drug lords and other criminals when he was then Davao mayor.
This was the finding in the 100-page committee report submitted by the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon, and the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday.
Eleven senators signed the committee report, including senators Gregorio Honasan II, Loren Legarda, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Emmanuel Pacquiao, and Vicente Sotto III.
Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Franklin Drilon signed but have reservations and intention to make amendments and interpellate while Sen. Francis Pangilinan signed with the intention to concur in part.
Five senators did not sign the committee report: de Lima, Antonio Trillanes IV, Ralph Recto, Grace Poe and Joseph Victor Ejercito.
Poe failed to sign the committee report since she was on official business trip while Ejercito failed to sign because he is currently serving a 90-day suspension order from the Supreme Court.
Despite the lack of proof of state-sponsored killings, Gordon pointed out that absence of clear and quick action to resolve such killings and cops’ disregard on cleaning its ranks.
He also advised Duterte to “be a better role model” and “be careful with his words” as head of state.
The senator also noted that law enforcement officers should respect the constitutional rights of the accused especially when conducting operations such as Project “Tokhang” or house visits.
De Lima, who was among the five who did not sign the committee report, said she is currently preparing a dissenting report which she intends to submit on Monday.
She said she was upset by how the proceedings were abruptly terminated and how other witnesses prepared by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) never got to testify. (pna)
Interior dept forms probe team against HR violations
THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has formed an independent group that would investigate possible human rights violations in the conduct of illegal drug police operations, a DILG official said yesterday.
DILG assistant secretary Epimaco Densing said the investigation would check on the consistency of the National Police in upholding human rights as a government policy.
“We want to show them that we are following the process and procedures that secure human rights,” Densing said.
The team, named “Independent human rights probe committee” is headed by DILG Undersecretary for Peace and Order Catalino Cuy and Densing with their associates, human rights investigator and civil volunteers from the DILG.
The team would supervise interviews from people and police involved or present during the encounter or anything related to illegal drug operations.
There would be 25 massive illegal drugs cases to be studied by the group, of which the group has to ascertain that people killed in the conduct of police operations underwent the normal procedure of bringing them to the folds of the law.
Densing said if indeed human rights violations exist, then the DILG can make recommendations as to how to prevent or minimize such acts.
“We will explore the perspectives from the victim, suspects who survived, friends or neighbors who witnessed and the police involved in order for us to come up with indicative conclusions on how we can make recommendations as to how we will minimize human rights violations,” he said.
Police officers who violate human rights may face reasonable charges and penalties.
The official likewise said the Department is mandated to promote peace and order, ensures and upholds public safety and human rights by observing proper procedures in implementing government’s policies. (pna)
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