ALLEGATIONS OF police involvement in summary killings and drug trafficking were raised by witnesses in a Senate hearing on Monday, August 22.

The witnesses, Harra Kazuo and Mary Rose Aquino, lamented the suspicious deaths of their loved ones in the hands of Pasay City Police and Antipolo City Police, respectively.

Kazuo and Aquino admitted to the participation of their slain kin in the illegal drug trade, but asserted that policemen were highly involved as well.

The hearing was set by Sen. Leila de Lima, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, to investigate the apparent rise in cases of extrajudicial killings brought about by the administration’s war on drugs and crime.

“What is particularly worrisome is that the campaign against drugs seems to be an excuse for some law enforcers and other elements like vigilantes to commit murder with impunity,” said de Lima.

However, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa firmly said that the PNP’s stand against extrajudicial killings is “uncompromising.”

“If any policeman is found that he violated the law on self-defense, he will be investigated, prosecuted, and accordingly punished,” said dela Rosa.

Police ‘loyal’, ‘trusted’

Dela Rosa said that the PNP “does not and will never condone” vigilante killings. He added that these killings are committed by various syndicate groups to protect their business and silence their assets.

“The PNP will extend the full force of the law against those who are responsible for these crimes. The PNP remains loyal to our sworn mandate to serve and protect the Filipino people in accordance with the rule of law,” dela Rosa said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano criticized the media and “so-called human rights advocates” for making the killings appear grave and large-scale.

“Grabe po ‘yung tama sa media, na as if wild, wild west tayo. Fourteen thousand [pesos] plus lang ang sweldo ng mga pulis, hindi lahat may gamit, and then napapatayan din sila pero hindi pa tayo nag-launch ng imbestigasyon kung paano sila pwede tulungan. Sila pa iimbestigahan natin,” he said.

(“The media portrays the killings as if it’s the wild, wild west. The salary of policemen only amounts to fourteen thousand pesos, not everyone has complete gear and equipment and they also lose people from their ranks, but we still haven’t launched an investigation on how to help them. Now, they are the ones being scrutinized,” he said.)

Additionally, he said that drug lords and their supporters are now on the run. Filipinos are now beginning to feel safe since respect and fear of the law have been restored.

“[There is] renewed trust in our law enforcement and government under President Duterte. Are we using the term ‘extrajudicial killings’ loosely to discredit the PNP and Duterte administration?” he said.

“I agree with the chairperson na hindi intensyon ng committee na ito pahintuin [ang laban kontra droga]. Ang mga pulis nanonood lahat at kung lalabas na sila pa kontrabida ngayon, baka yung iba umatras,” he added.

(“I agree with the chairperson that it’s not the intention of this committee to put a stop to the war on illegal drugs. All policemen are watching and if they see that they are tagged as the antagonists in this hearing, some of them might back out,” he added.)

‘Blatant disregard for human life’

De Lima clarified that police killings could not yet be proven to be illegal. However, the large scale of these killings calls into question the rules of engagement adhered to by the police.

“How many people need to die before we act to correct this alarming situation? Buhay po ng tao ang pinag-uusapan dito, hindi lang basta numero. Sa bawat natagpuang bangkay sa kalsada, may nawalan ng kapatid, magulang, at asawa, may naulilang pamilya, may gumuhong kinabukasan at pag-asa,” de Lima said.

(“How many people need to die before we act to correct this alarming situation? We are talking about lives, not just figures. With every lifeless body on the streets, someone lost a sibling, parent, or spouse, and families, futures, and dreams were destroyed,” de Lima said.)

“Extrajudicial or extralegal killings, whether perpetrated by the state or by non-state actors must stop. Blatant disregard for human life has to stop,” she added.

Calls for justice

Some have echoed de Lima’s sentiments. In an interview with The GUIDON, Sister Arnold Maria Noel, SSpS, of Balay Rehabilitation Center, Inc. said that instead of safety and renewed trust in law enforcement, there is actually fear among the general public.

“There are very few people who are actually responding and coming out on [extrajudicial killings]. Especially in the slum areas, there is a climate of fear going around–they do not know who to go to,” she said.

Similarly, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said that the war on drugs “should not be reduced to killings.”

“[The war on drugs] must be a just campaign to promote new beginnings. I believe that in the government’s war against drugs, we cannot play gods and decide whose lives matter and whose lives don’t,” she said.

“May justice system ang ating demokrasya. Mabagal man o may kahinaan, hindi ito puwedeng isantabi,” she added.

(“Our democracy entails a justice system. And though it may be slow or weak, we should not set it aside,” she added.)