Malacañang assured yesterday that policemen taking advantage of the war against illegal drugs will be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted, following the release Friday of the US State Department human rights report for last year that said over 6,000 people were killed by the police and vigilantes throughout the course of “Oplan: Tokhang.”
Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella reiterated that the government does not condone such acts and assured appropriate actions will be taken.
“The PHL Government is firmly committed to upholding human rights. Vigilante or extrajudicial killings are unlawful and are therefore not sanctioned. The government condemns such practice,” Abella said in a text message.
“We will arrest, investigate, prosecute, and punish the scalawags in uniform, while also pursuing reform in these institutions so that they can more effectively conduct this noble crusade,” he added.
The Philippine National Police was suspended by President Duterte from enforcing drug laws to undergo cleansing after some policemen were tagged in the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.
According to Abella, Duterte has already ordered the appropriate law enforcement institutions to take decisive legal steps to ensure accountability.
“The PHL Government will not shirk from its duty to protect the Filipino people, and ensure that they have a secure, peaceful, and bountiful future,” he said.
Abella appealed that the vigilante killings should not be confused with the government’s war on illegal drugs, which is an urgent and critical domestic matter.
“An emerging narco state impinges on every Filipino citizen’s right to live in peace and should be dealt with firmly, in conformity to the country’s established human rights principles and in accordance with the rule of law,” he said.
“We hope the international community will support us in this effort.” (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)