House eyeing probe on anti-drug war cops facing cases

A number of lawmakers are seeking for motu proprio congressional investigation into cases of police officers facing administrative and criminal cases over former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

Sta. Rosa, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, a co-chair of the Quad Committee, said low-ranking police officers involved in the bloody drug war currently face legal repercussions for actions they said were orders from their “superiors.”

This, as Fernandez pointed out that Duterte made a public statement on "taking full responsibility" for the effects of the war on drugs.

“Di ‘ba may pronouncement ang Presidente (Duterte) na, me alone will be responsible for the effects of the war on drugs now na nangyari sa kanila to, so sino ang tutulong kanila?” he asked.

(Didn't the President not make a pronouncement that ‘I alone will be responsible for the effects of the war on drugs’? Now that this has happened to them, who will help them?)

During the last QuadCom hearing Wednesday, Duterte admitted he was not aware of the data that 1,286 officers were affected in the line of duty, with 312 killed and 974 wounded, from July 2016 to June 2022, and that a total of 214 officers also faced 352 criminal cases.

“Sabi nga ni Chief PNP (PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil) maraming mga pulis ang mga na-dismiss, 195 yung mga na-dismiss tapos 398 facing dismissal,” he said.

(The PNP Chief said that many police officers were dismissed, 195 were dismissed and 398 are facing dismissal.)

“So papaano iyung pamilya nila? Nawalan sila ng jobs, nawala iyung kanilang life, iyung kanilang dignity as well in following those orders,” Fernandez added.

(What about their families? They lost their jobs, they lost their lives and their dignity as well because of following those orders.)

GMA News Online sought the comment of Duterte's camp but has yet to reply as of posting time.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, meanwhile, backed Fernandez, pointing out that many officers currently face financial strain due to the cost of legal representation. 

“Base po sa datos na binigay ni Chief PNP Marbil ay marami pong miyembro ng PNP ay nahaharap sa mga kasong administratibo at kasong kriminal and nangangailangan po sila ng abogado,” Barbers said.

(Based on the data provided by Chief PNP Marbil, many PNP members are facing administrative and criminal cases and they need a lawyer.)

Barbers claimed that many officers felt betrayed, as they expected support for actions taken under the government’s anti-drug directives. 

“Isa lang ho ang kanilang sinasabi na nasaan daw iyung pangako sa kanila na tutulungan sila sa mga kaso,” he said.

(All they're saying is where is the promise to them that they would be assisted with their cases?)

Meanwhile, Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante said the goal of the investigation would not be to punish officers but to assist them, particularly those willing to tell the truth about the directives they received. 

Abante said some cops have expressed a desire to speak out, and the committee is prepared to assist them. 

“Pinag-usapan na namin ito e (We already discussed this) that we are there to help,” he said.

Fernandez, meanwhile, urged officers affected by the war on drugs to come forward to share their experiences as part of the inquiry. 

“So well, nananawagan din po kami sa inyo kasi nga kayo biktima rin kayo rito ng war on drugs,” he said. 

(We also call on police officers to come out because you are also victims of the war on drugs.)

“So if ever that you wanted to avail para madinig po namin kayo, so iniimbitahan din po namin kayo na makipag-ugnayan po kayo sa Quad Comm.”

(So if ever you wanted to avail so that we can hear you, we also invite you to contact QuadCom.)

—VAL, GMA Integrated News