THE Commission on Human Rights on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court decision directing the Philippine National Police to submit a report on its war on drugs.
“It is a step forward in ensuring that the rule of law still prevails in our country. But, equally important, is on how the decision brings us closer to knowing the truth and pursuing justice for the victims and their families,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.
She expressed her disappointment over the PNP’s refusal to share and open its case folder, including police blotters, spot reports, investigation documents, forensic records, inventory reports and affidavits, among others, to the CHR, “all in the interest of upholding the rights of every Filipino.”
She said: “We look forward to the police force’s cooperation without condition on this matter. “We believe that their swift action would allow the wheels of justice to turn faster given the clamor for transparency and accountability for alleged human rights violations linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign.”
“In the spirit of due process and the rule of law, these cases need to be tried in proper courts and should not remain as mere files stacked in shelves to dust,” she added.
With the Supreme Court order on PNP, De Guia said they were confident they could pursue an independent probe of alleged cases of extrajudicial killings through information and data sharing.
“If we can sustain development such as this, as well as expediently demonstrate that our national judicial systems are functioning as they should, it will be a concrete manifestation that the State is willing and able to genuinely carry out investigation or prosecution—dispensing the need for international bodies to step in,” she said.