The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, July 12, vowed to hold liable those in government who were allegedly involved in the reported abuses committed during the illegal drugs operations of the previous administration.
“Hindi po papayag ang DOJ na mabalewala ang mga pang-aabuso ng kahit na sino na may hawak na katungkulan sa gobyerno (The DOJ will not allow to let go the abuses committed by those in government,” Justice Secretary Crispin C. Remulla told journalists during a press briefing.
With his declaration, Remulla said: “Kung kayo po ay naging biktima ng kahit anong proseso ng batas, naging biktima ng alagad ng batas sa nakaraan at kayo po ay testigo, tutulungan namin kayo (if you have been a victim of any process of the law, have been a law enforcement victim in the past and you will testify, we will help you).”
He pointed out the DOJ’s assurance during the 5th United Nations Joint Programme Steering Committee meeting held at the DOJ on Wednesday, July 12.
The meeting was led by UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Ambassador Gustavo Gonzales and DOJ Undersecretary Raul T. Vasquez.
Remulla said the UN would like to determine “sa drug war na ‘yan, kung paano gagawin natin sa naging abuso sa drug war na ‘yun, mga biktima na bigyan ng witness protection doon sa drug war na ‘yon, at kung ano talaga ang ating magiging polisiya sa droga, kung ito ay babaguhin natin bilang isang public health issue only (the drug war of the previous administration, what does the government intend to do about the abuses, the protection given to victims, and if the government plans to turn the drug problem as a public health issue).”
“Kasi ang UN Joint Programme pinapanood nila tayo sa ating human rights attitude sa ating bansa (The UN Joint Programme watches over our human rights attitude here in the Philippines),” he explained.
He said the during the meeting, “may mga bagay silang gustong pag-usapan at gustong gawing aksyon (the UN wanted to talk about certain issues and the action they want the Philippines to take).”
“At ito naman ay syempre nasa gobyerno naman natin kung papayag tayo sa gusto nila. Kasi baka minsan sobra ng pakikialam ang mangyayari (This will still depend on our government if it will allow what they want. Bacause this could be too much intrusion into our internal affairs),” he also said.
Published reports stated that more than 6,200 persons were killed in about 233,300 anti-illegal drugs operations conducted in the Philippines from July 1, 2016 to March 31, 2022.