The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Wednesday, Oct. 30, vowed to run after those behind the killings during the previous administration’s drug war after the statements made by former President Rodrigo Duterte aligned with the commission’s findings.
In a statement, the CHR said: "The Commission, under the 6th Commission en banc, endeavors to determine the accountable officers and individuals, in pursuit of truth and justice, as more come forward to shed light on events surrounding the campaign on illegal drugs.”
“Though the pursuit of justice may be complex and painstaking, the Commission remains steadfast in its mandate for the protection and promotion of the rights of all,” it said.
During the recent Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the past administration’s drug war, the commission cited that Duterte confessed that “he would ‘rather have suspected drug dealers killed’ than allow them due process and admitted to encouraging law enforcement in the past to taunt suspects to justify ‘neutralizing’ them.”
“These remarks align with the findings in CHR’s April 2022 report on the anti-illegal drug campaign, which highlighted a pattern of law enforcers alleging that victims either initiated aggression or resisted arrest (‘nanlaban’),” said the CHR.
“This is a clear violation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which upholds every person’s inherent right to life and their right to legal protection,” it added.
It then expressed optimism that “the testimonies and sworn statements presented in the Senate hearings, along with the Quad Committee hearings in the House of Representatives, will help bring full justice to all.”
“As questions surrounding the past administration’s drug war continue to be addressed, CHR calls on all stakeholders and agencies, including the Philippine National Police, to cooperate fully to uncover the complete truth,” it urged.
At the same time, the CHR expressed concerns over the statements of Duterte before the Senate hearing.
“The Commission has long condemned such statements, which embolden law enforcers and foster a culture of abuse and impunity,” it said.
The CHR reminded that the Philippine Constitution’s Bill of Rights “safeguards the right to life and liberty, guaranteeing equal protection under the law.”
“Additionally, both the ICCPR (Article 14) and the Constitution (Section 14) affirm the right to a fair trial, including the presumption of innocence until proven guilty and entitlement to an independent and impartial trial,” it also said.