Malacañang assured the public that the government will investigate the deaths of nine activists in separate police operations in the Southern Tagalog on Sunday, saying their deaths were not covered by the international humanitarian law (IHL).
(OPS / FILE PHOTO)
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that nine people believed to be with activist groups were killed in Laguna, Rizal, and Batangas provinces, two days after President Duterte told police and soldiers to "kill" and "finish off" communist rebels in encounters.
In his Monday presser, Roque said the government will conduct an investigation, pointing out that even though there is an ongoing armed struggle in the country, their deaths were not covered by the IHL.
"So yung mga siyam po na napatay, iimbestigahan po natin 'yan kasi hindi po sila sakop ng IHL dahil noong sila ay napatay, wala naman silang hawak na baril (We will investigate the deaths of the nine activists because they are not covered by the IHL since they were not holding guns when they were killed)," he said.
"Obligasyon ng estado po, iimbestigahan at kung makita nila na meron talagang dapat parusahan, ang obligasyon ay lilitisin at paparusahan ang mga pumatay (It is the obligation of the state to investigate and if we see that someone should be held liable, they will face trial and will be punished for the deaths)," he added.
Roque said the government will follow existing laws, the revised penal code, and human rights laws in getting to the bottom of the incidents.
"Hindi po sila pupwedeng patayin (They couldn't be killed) unless there are necessity and proportionality. 'Yan po ang iimbestigahan (That is what we will look into)," he said.
"Kung wala pong (If there are no) necessity and proportionality, that would be the crime of murder," he added.
According to Roque, one of the basic principles of the IHL is to always distinguish the target from the civilians.
"Kinakailangan tatargetin mo lang yung mga kabahagi sa labanan at 'wag mong tatargetin yung mga hindi kabahagi kagaya ng sibilyan (You should only go after those who are involved in the fight and not the innocent ones like civilians)," he said.
Meanwhile, Roque said that Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has already formed an inter-agency task force to look into the deaths of red-tagged personalities, including the recent deaths of the nine activists.
"I am absolutely certain na kasama po ito sa mga kasong iimbestigahan dahil obligasyon po 'yan ng estado (that this case will be one of the cases that will be investigated because that is the State's obligation)," he said.