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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte directive a hurdle in seeking justice for EJK victims--House panel

Duterte directive a hurdle in seeking justice for EJK victims--House panel

Published May 21, 2024 11:34 am

At A Glance

  • The House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights has flagged Executive Order (EO) No. 2, or the Freedom of Information (FOI), as an obstacle to those seeking justice for victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK) during the previous Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs.

IMG-89e72d7f7602eed04c4adaef22d8e0bc-V.jpgFormer President Rodrigo Duterte (Keith Bacongco/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights has flagged Executive Order (EO) No. 2, or the Freedom of Information (FOI), as an obstacle to those seeking justice for victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK) during the previous Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs.

“Executive Order No. 2 has been pictured as an obstacle to all these investigations. Now, we want to be clear. Una, tama ba ang pag-sign ng EO 2, o baka ginagamit kunwari ang EO 2 as an excuse?” Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin asked

(First, is the signing of EO 2 correct, or is EO 2 being used as an excuse?)

Signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016 during his first month in office, the EO sought to promote a transparent government as it enabled the public to freely access matters pertaining to transactions and operations.

EO No. 2 allowed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to prepare a list of exceptions that will not put in jeopardy privacy and national security concerns.

Incidentally, it says all “information concerning law enforcement and protection of public and personal safety” are barred for public consumption.

Garin said this exemption is used heavily by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as an “excuse” to evade accountability from families of EJK victims that are asking for justice.

According to Human Rights Watch, Duterte’s drug war from July 2016 to May 2022 led to a death toll of over 12,000 Filipinos. At least 2,000 of these were reportedly attributed to the PNP.

“Sa EO 2 ni dating Presidente Duterte, parang talagang sinelyuhan niya na yung investigation na hindi talaga mag-pursue any investigation because of this,” said ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro.

(In former president Duterte's EO 2, it seems that he has really sealed the investigation so that no one will pursue any investigation because of this.)

Castro pointed out that because of this law, only 52 out of 6,200 cases linked to EJK have been investigated. So far, only three of these cases saw prosecution, she said.

“Kung hindi ito ma-repeal ni Marcos Jr. walang magpo-proceed talaga na investigation at hindi talaga makakakuha ng justice ang mga victims ng war on drugs ni dating Presidente Duterte,” the lawmaker said, urging action from the sitting President.

(If Marcos Jr. cannot repeal it no investigation will proceed and the victims of former President Duterte's war on drugs will not get justice.)

Likewise, former Bayan Muna Party-list congressman and human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares says that individuals who want justice for their slain relatives cannot even file a case because the evidence are inaccessible.

“It is incumbent on the PNP to prove the data kasi hindi talaga ma-produce yan (because that can't really be produced) imagine CHR (Commission on Human Rights) cannot even produce it. The fact that it has been going on for since 2016 until now, that is tantamount to a lot of injustice,” said Colmenares.

“I’m very sad to say you don’t consider lack of access of the victims to police investigations, to documents, to the courts, to the justice system, as not a human right violation,” he told PNP officials present in the hearing.

“This is not only justice delayed, this is justice denied,” he emphasized.

CHR Chairperson Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante said his panel will consider writing a letter to President Marcos to urge him to revoke EO No. 2

Related Tags

Freedom of Information House of Representatives extrajudicial killings War on drugs
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