The Commission on Human Rights on Monday vowed to stay vigilant in the proceedings of the criminal charges filed against operatives of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
This is in connection with the supposed “misencounter” on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on Feb. 4, 2020, during which three operatives were killed.
“While the Commission is hopeful that the prosecution charges will subsequently be a means for the discipline of law enforcers, CHR also remains vigilant of the legal proceedings to help guarantee the right to a fair trial of the involved police officers and agents,” CHR executive director and spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.
“As fellow duty bearers, we hope for the continued efforts and reforms of state agents to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights,” she added.
The Department of Justice’s National Prosecution Service anti-drug agents after the National Bureau of Investigation indicted the accused of probable cause.
Prosecutors determined that both agencies were conducting separate buy-bust operations when the clash happened and found out that after a thorough evaluation, there was sufficient evidence to file charges.
“CHR believes that this indictment is a step forward in counteracting similar happenstance from taking place again and further proof that law enforcement agencies are inclined to prevent human rights violations,” De Guia said.
“Our leaders may change, but our obligations under the Constitution remain the same—to serve and protect the Filipino people,” she cited.
She lauded ex-PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar and PDEA director general Wilkins Villanueva for signing a unified guideline aimed to prevent a repeat of the misencounter between law enforcement agents on their conduct of anti-drug operations.