PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa said Saturday they were hesitant to forward to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) the records related to drug killings and suspected human rights violations that are under investigation because they are mandated to protect all those involved, either civilians or police personnel.
“Mahirap na basta request ibigay na natin hindi ba. May limitasyon din tayo kaya meron tayong mga document security (category). Not really to hide something but in order to protect each and every individual involved in that incident, not only ‘yung pulis na nag-operate but pati na rin ‘yung mga biktima (We can't just grant any request. There is a limitation which is why we have document security categories, not really to hide something but in order to protect every individual involved in the case, not just the police who conducted the operation, but also the victims,” he said when asked how he will respond to a CHR request for access to the case folders.
Even in cases that have been resolved, Dela Rosa said careful evaluation is still needed before the records are forwarded to any agency.
“Bakit pa gusto nila? Meron naman spot report, ‘yung spot report na binibigay namin it will supply all the needed details na gusto nila (Why do they want it when we have spot reports, which already provides all the details),” said Dela Rosa.
In August, officials of the PNP, Department of Interior and Local Government and CHR met and agreed that as part of their information sharing, the PNP will provide the CHR all the case folders amid the CHR’s investigation on the alleged extrajudicial killings and human rights violations in relation to the administration’s war on drugs, which was then spearheaded by the PNP.
The CHR wants to validate in particular the “nanlaban” (fighting back to resist arrest) claim of the policemen that resulted in the death of the suspects.
President Rodrigo Duterte, however, denied the CHR’s request.
CHR spokesperson Jackie de Guia said they will continue to reach out to the PNP to find out the truth and accountability in each case.
She said they will propose the creation of a PNP-CHR Joint Task Force for the auditing of the alleged extrajudicial killings as well as the conduct of a regular meeting to discuss such matter which promotes transparency.
As of September, the CHR is investigating 772 cases of extra-judicial killings of drugs suspects. (VoxPop Philippines)
