HRW calls for 'meaningful reforms' in PNP amid drug war exposés

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Saturday called on the Marcos administration to initiate reforms in the police force amid the recent exposés during congressional hearings on the war on drugs of the previous regime.

In a statement, HRW urged “sweeping reforms” in law enforcement due to allegations of police corruption and abuse uncovered in recent probes of the four committees of the House of Representatives.

The human rights watchdog cited the testimonies of witnesses in the hearings conducted by the House’s Quad Committee about apparent extrajudicial killings committed by the police during anti-drug raids since 2016. 

Among those uncovered in the congressional probe was the alleged cash reward system or payment per killing in the Duterte administration’s’ war on drugs ranging from P20,000 to P1 million as exposed by retired police colonel Royina Garma.

“Recent testimony in Congress brought to light the murderous police infrastructure during Duterte’s ‘war on drugs,’” said Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. 

“President (Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.) should take immediate steps for meaningful reforms to the Philippine National Police and other police agencies,” said Lau.

Duterte denies reward system

Former President Rodrigo Duterte has denied the allegations of the supposed reward system. 

“‘Yang sinasabi nilang reward, walang reward ‘yan. Hindi ako magbibigay ng reward,” Duterte told Sonshine Media Network International. 

(There was no reward. I will never give a reward.) 

The past administration’s war on drugs has killed 6,000 drug personalities based on police records, but human rights groups contend that the deaths reached as much as 30,000, including vigilante killings, due to Duterte's policy.

Duterte insisted that he never ordered the police force to kill anyone. 

“Hindi ko sinasabi na sinadya kong pinatay (I really didn’t mean to kill). Sabi ko nga sa mga sundalo, give them the chance to fight so that if they fight, then, you would be justified in killing them and that is one problem solved for the day. Totoo ‘yan (That’s true),” the former chief executive said. 

Investigate

The HRW, however, said that the Interior Department “should investigate allegations of police misconduct and cooperate with the Justice Department to file appropriate charges against the police officers implicated.”

HRW said the congressional hearings revealed that government institutions and resources were harnessed to enforce the murderous “war on drugs” and undermine the critics of those policies.

The so-called drug war, the group said, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people but with almost zero accountability. 

PDEA, ICC

Moreover, the group said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should make changes to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which is under the Office of the President and was a key police partner in the anti-drug campaign. 

The president should also ensure cooperation with the International Criminal Court’s investigation into these killings, it said.

“The Interior and Justice ministries need to follow-up on the congressional revelations and credibly investigate these ghastly crimes,” said Lau. 

“Concerned foreign governments and donors should press the Philippine government to respond promptly to ensure that state institutions are not misused to perpetrate such horrifying abuses ever again,” added Lau.

GMA News Online has reached out to the PNP and DILG for comment but they have yet to reply as of posting time. 

—VAL, GMA Integrated News