THE Department of Justice (DOJ) will strictly monitor the actions taken by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against lawmen tagged in alleged abuses committed during President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
“We’ll prod the PNP to initiate the action based on the recommendations of its Internal Affairs Service. Otherwise, any member agency of the review panel, other than the DOJ, may file the appropriate complaint before the DOJ. We also intend to reach out to the families of the victims so that they themselves could act as the complainants, ” said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
Guevarra on Wednesday said the PNP has already recommended the filing of appropriate criminal and administrative charges against police officers tagged in the alleged extra-judicial killings during President Duterte’s war on drugs.
Guevarra revealed this when he spoke online before the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
According to Guevara, the Inter-Agency Review Panel that conducted investigation on the alleged extra-judicial killings has came up with an initial report and forwarded it to the PNP.
The PNP, in return, immediately conducted its own internal investigation, which eventually led to recommendations to file charges against the lawmen involved.
“We have referred these initial findings to our national police authorities, and we have been informed that the appropriate internal investigation of thousands of these incidents had been conducted, and scores of police officers had been recommended for administrative and criminal action,” he added.
Guevarra said the panel’s immediate task is “to ensure that the recommendations have been acted upon and carried out by the proper disciplinary authorities and that measures are adopted to minimize loss of lives during legitimate law enforcement operations against illegal drugs”.
“We reject any attempt by any external entity to assume jurisdiction over internal matters which are being addressed more than adequately by our national institutions and authorities,” he added.
