The country has a working legal system without the need for outside interference, Malacañang said Thursday after authorities released the initial results of a probe on the deaths related to the war on drugs.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the preliminary report made by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra to the United Nations Human Rights Council showed the government is serious in running after law enforcers who break the law.
The State is committed to fulfill its obligation "to investigate and prosecute violation on the right to life,” Roque added.
Guevarra earlier reported to the UN rights body about the discovery of irregularities committed by law enforcement agents in some anti-illegal drugs operations. The probe, conducted by a DOJ-led inter-agency panel, showed that law enforcers failed to follow protocols on coordination with other agencies as well as processing of the crime scene in more than half of the records reviewed.
Administrative and criminal charges have reportedly been recommended against cops found involved in protocol breach.
"At itong naunang pahayag ng ating Secretary of Justice ay nagpapatunay na seryoso po tayo sa obligasyon natin na mag-imbestiga at maglitis, dahil hinaharap po natin ang katotohanan na posible pong may ilang mga alagad ng batas na kinakailangan sigurong managot sa ating batas dito sa Pilipinas (The initial statement of our Secretary of Justice proves that we are serious in our obligation to investigate and prosecute because there is a possibility that some law enforcers must be held accountable under the laws in the Philippines)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Thursday, Feb. 25.
"So tayo po, that proves that our domestic legal system is working at hindi po dapat manghimasok ang ibang mga institusyon (So that proves that our domestic legal system is working and other institutions should not interfere)," he said.
Roque also urged the public to let the country's wheels of justice take its course related to the anti-drug operations.
"Bigyan po natin ng pagkakataon ang ating legal system na gumana ngayong mayroon na pong ganiyang transparency at open mindedness ‘no sa parte po ng no less than our Secretary of Justice (Let's give our legal system a chance to work now that there is transparency and open-mindedness on the part of no less than our Secretary of Justice)," he said.
The DOJ-led panel was formed last year to conduct a review of more than 5,000 anti-illegal drug operations where deaths occurred.
President Duterte launched a war on drugs at the start of his term, promising to preserve and protect the Filipinos. The government has drawn criticisms from rights groups here and abroad over the alleged extrajudicial killings and other rights abuses linked to the drug war. The President however remained unfazed by the criticisms of his drug war as well as inquiry initiated before an international court.