An organization of lawyers has backed the call of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) for the Philippine government to make public its findings on the review conducted on cases involving deaths in illegal drugs operations.
“We subscribe to the need to publish the findings of the rather belated ‘investigations’ by the Philippine government on the paltry cases related to the ‘drug war’ so it can be ‘evaluated’ and to ensure transparency,” National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) said through its President Edre U. Olalia.
Last Thursday, Oct. 7, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said during the 48th Session of the UN Human Rights Council: "I encourage publication of the panel's findings so its work can be evaluated.”
Bachelet was also quoted as saying: “We encourage the involvement of the national Human Rights Commission and other relevant actors, including sharing information on cases under investigation, to ensure an effective and victim-centered processes.”
Olalia said “continuing secrecy on matters of paramount public interest engenders distrust and cynicism.”
While he commended “a few positive measures by the government on specific incidents and issues,” he pointed out that “institutional and policy changes are still needed” to prevent abuses.
The results on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) review of 52 cases involving deaths in illegal drugs operations conducted by the police had been submitted to President Duterte.
Later, both the DOJ and the Philippine National Police (PNP) discussed jointly the results and agreed to turn over the cases to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for case build-up.
Also, both the DOJ – through the NBI – and the PNP agreed to come up with guidelines in the conduct of investigations related to deaths in drug operations.
On UNHCR, Olalia said that Bachelet’s office “remains deeply concerned that red-tagging which publicly discredits civil society continues and puts the targets at ‘huge risk’ including human rights defenders, environmental advocates and lawyers.”
He also observed that “she virtually rebuffed the government when she said that the ICC (International Criminal Court) developments give a sharp focus on the ability and willingness of domestic remedies.”
Earlier, the ICC has given its go signal to investigate killings that took place during the Philippines’ anti-illegal drugs campaign.
“The subtext is apparent: the domestic remedies remain unable, unwilling and even ineffective to bring impartial, concrete and measurable justice to the victims,” Olalia said.