Drug war killings probe not part of DOJ review— Palace
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque maintained that the ongoing police investigations into the deaths related to the
country’s drug war are not part of the sharing of information agreement between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
In his virtual presser, the Palace official said that sharing information about ongoing police investigations is traditionally exempted from the right to information.
But he clarified that this does not cover the “sharing of information” between PNP and DOJ “pagdating dun sa posibilidad na meron ilang mga kapulisan na merong pananagutan pagdating po sa patayan (when it comes to the possibility that there are policemen who are liable to the killings).”
“Pero ‘yung mga (But the) ongoing police investigations never subject to freedom of information,” Roque said.
During a pre-recorded public address aired on Monday night, President Duterte said that the government cannot divulge all information related to the drug war and the fight against insurgency, adding that these are confidential in nature.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/01/its-confidential-duterte-denies-full-access-to-govts-drug-war-records/
He balked at the idea of human rights groups having access to this information.
Roque said that the Chief Executive was clear in his mandate that he will “back up” the police if they are simply doing their duty.
But if the policemen violate the law, “they are on their own,” the spokesperson pointed out.
“So, ganyan din po ‘yung kanyang instruction pagdating sa impormasyon. Syempre ‘yung mga sensitibo na (So, that the same instructions he has when it comes to the information. Of course, when it comes to sensitive) involving live investigations hindi po pupwedeng ilabas (it cannot be released),” Roque said.
“Pero everything else naman po na para magkaroon ng pananagutan at mapataas pa ‘yung professionalism ng ating mga pulis ay hindi naman po sakop (that will push for accountability and to improve the professionalism in our police is not covered),” he added.
According to the DOJ, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar agreed to open 61 investigation cases where the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has already found liability on the part of law enforcers.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has long wanted to access these files, but Eleazar said it is up to the DOJ if it wants to share the documents with the commission.