House QuadComm wants to re-investigate EJK killings —Abante

The House of Representatives Quad Committee suggested Tuesday the possible re-investigation of the thousands of extrajudicial killings in the country due to the shortcomings of the past administration. 

“I think there should not only be a review of these cases, there ought to be a re-investigation of these cases. Would that be the kind of mandate the Philippine National Police also has? Because the thing is yung mga investigation na ginawa on the last administration, were actually, wala, walang nangyari,” said Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante during the resumption of QuadComm’s hearing.

Abante then asked Philippine National Police Director for Operations Police Major General Nicolas Salvador if a re-investigation is possible, to which he responded: “Yes, your honor, it’s possible for re-investigation.”

“Therefore, if it’s possible  then I would strongly suggest that these victims should be re-investigated so that proper charges in court will be filed,” said Abante.

Based on government records, over 6,000 drug suspects were killed during the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drug operations. Human rights organizations, however, claim the number could reach 30,000 due to unreported related deaths.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Kristina Conti said that aside from the policy of the Duterte administration, the families of the victims refused to cooperate in the investigations on the drug war due to threats to themselves.

“Kasi yung police na nag-operate o pumatay, doon pa rin naka-assign, and probably sila rin ang magi-imbestiga,” she said.

But she added that a new probe on the cases would be possible if the investigators would be able to restore the trust of the families in the country’s justice system.

“First, it would take a big deal to recover or to restore the trust of these people, of these victims in the investigation and in the justice system in the Philippines. Pasensya na po, pero parang nabasag po yun nung nakaraang panahon (I’m very sorry, but that trust was already broken in the past),” said Conti.

The lawyer noted that based on the data from Dahas, an organization which monitors killings, extrajudicial killings still persist in the present administration with some 300 cases recorded.

“And we think it could be related to continuing practice, nakasanayan na ng police….Ang pwede po siguro, if this committee or the government wants to re-investigate everything, as a rule, continue with the investigation. If some of the victims would prefer not to be re-investigated then allow them this leeway,” she said.

(And we think it could be related to the continuing practice, because our police could have been used to such practice ... .If this committee or the government wants to re-investigate everything, as a rule continue with the investigation. If some of the victims would prefer not to be re-investigated then allow them this leeway.)

The Department of Justice in November ordered the creation of a task force made up of prosecutors and National Bureau of Investigation agents to investigate extra-judicial killings in the war on drugs of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

According to Memorandum Order No. 778, a copy of which GMA News Online obtained, the task force will be under the Office of the Secretary and will "investigate, assist in the conduct of case build-up, and if warranted, file the appropriate criminal charges in court against the perpetrators and all those involved in extrajudicial killings during the previous administration's anti-illegal drugs campaign."
—RF, GMA Integrated News