DOJ: Mismatch in death certificates part of war on drugs review

The Department of Justice is already looking into the reported mismatch between the death certificates and the actual causes of death of some casualties in the government's war on drugs, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Friday.

When asked for comment about the Reuters report showing the mismatch, Guevarra told GMA News Online, “It is part of the ongoing review.”

Guevarra previously vowed to launch an investigation into the anomalies.

The DOJ has reviewed 352 cases where individuals have been killed during the police's anti-drug operations since 2016.

In October 2021, the agency published its review of 52 drug war cases that showed that several suspects that were killed after allegedly firing first at police officers were negative for gunpowder nitrates.

In a message to reporters, Guevarra said he would recommend to incoming Justice Secretary Boying Remulla to continue the programs of the DOJ.

These include maintaining the agency’s “excellent” record in anti-human trafficking; strengthening the campaign against cybercrimes; pursuing the 3-year joint program with the UN on human rights promotion and protection; and developing alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation.

Also included are the transfer of the New Bilibid Prison and the professionalization of the Bureau of Corrections; the regionalization of prison facilities; the digitalization of prison records; the pursuit of the immigration modernization bill; and the strengthening of relations with law enforcement agencies and the judiciary.

Guevarra said he will meet with Remulla and his team on June 9.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health said death certificates are handled by medical officers on the ground and in hospitals.

“Ang DOH po nagbibigay lang ng technical assistance atsaka ‘yung deuilines on how we fill out our medical or death certificates kung ano po ‘yung mga sinasabi nating diseases dito sa ating mga classification,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

“But as to the filling out of these death certificates, this is being done by our medical officers on the ground or even our hospitals,” she added. —NB, GMA News