OFFICE FOR Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI) Director Leland Joseph R. Dela Cruz, PhD., released a statement on both his personal Facebook account and the official OSCI Facebook page dated December 11 regarding OSCI’s stand on the recent extrajudicial killings and President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

The statement highlighted the “full recognition of human rights” in Article III, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which states, “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

The statement also mentioned that OSCI stood for “a drug-free Philippines”, and stood “with groups that condemn extrajudicial killings.”

OSCI noted that they stood against the methods used in the war of drugs, which lead to “the loss of innocent lives”, and called all leaders and citizens to condemn “the culture of violence”, and to “promote peace, social justice, and the rule of law”.

In an interview with The GUIDON, Dela Cruz stated that OSCI decided to release the statement in light of International Human Rights Day, which was held on December 10.

Dela Cruz said that the statement does not mark a change in OSCI policy, and was agreed upon by the office through a plenary meeting.