The Philippine National Police (PNP) assured the public that the investigation on the alleged human rights abuses and extra-judicial killings in the conduct of drug war will continue despite the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold its probe.
PNP spokesperson Col. Rhoderick Alba said the conduct of the investigation is continuously being done by the Department of Justice (DOJ)--which started in May when the PNP leadership opened the drug war documents to the department.
Currently, a total of 52 cases involving 154 policemen are under case build-up by joint PNP-National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Investigating Panel.
"It might have halted at the ICC, but the investigation continues here through the Department of Justice (DOJ). The PNP gives its full trust to DOJ’s handling of the drug cases," said Aba.
More than 6,000 suspected drug personalities died in police operations since President Duterte launched the drug war in July 2016. Thousands more died from the hands of drug war-inspired vigilante groups.
Some family of the victims accused the PNP of deliberately killing their relatives and questioned the infamous nanlaban (suspects would shoot it out with cops) narrative of the police, citing the case of Kian delos Santos who was reported to have engaged cops in a shootout but turned out to have been executed in Caloocan City.
Alba also reminded some critics who have been attacking the PNP that it was the ICC which suspended the probe granting the deferral request of the Philippine government.
"The Philippine National Police (PNP) respects the opinion of various organizations that are calling for the resumption of the investigation of the Philippines’ Drug War before the International Criminal Court," said Alba.
"The Justice department is expected to come up with their findings and recommendation as an offshoot of their probe," he added.