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2A Dec. 15, 2016
spot where the latest fatality was shot in the head early in the
houses, at the funeral where the relatives are quietly wailing. The
television is blaring in the living room. But all sounds came off after
the noise of a bullet grazed through the last victim’s forehead and out
into a federal country, his supposedly “leftist” stance, his toxic but
the iron fist he had been bragging to brandish throughout the country
to smite down the drug users and pushers that corrupt the
God, I hate drugs,” he said during his speech in The Leader I Want
Forum at the De La Salle University. “And I had to kill people
its inhabitants and Duterte supporters to be the 4th safest city in the
to “knock on the door and persuade” alleged drug users and pushers
60,000 drug dependents in just two weeks. But drug dependents are
soared to 3,860.4
outlay/411-pnp-oplan-tokhang
3 In 2 weeks: 135 killed, 66K ‘surrendered,’ 43K homes ‘visited’ http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/795995/in-2-
weeks-135-killed-66k-surrendered-43k-homes-visited
4 UN Committee to Philippines: Stop extrajudicial killings. http://www.rappler.com/nation/148988-un-
committee-extrajudicial-killings-philippines
5 UN Committee probes state of human rights in PH. http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/09/29/un-
committee-probes-state-of-human-rights-in-philippines.html
urges the State to stop and prevent extrajudicial killings and any
sanctions commensurate with the gravity of the crime; and to take all
marginalized."6
killed than they be the ones to kill innocent lives during their drug-
credulity-drive-dutertes-keyboard-army/
induced deliriums. Yes, apparently, the streets are safer where
Trigger-happy impunity
Perhaps the most high-profile case that even reached the Senate
serving Espinosa a search warrant for drugs and firearms in his own
jail cell. His fellow inmate Raul Yap was also killed in the process.
members thereof are now facing murder and perjury charges filed by
the NBI.
killing-rubout.html
Duterte, in August, gave a shoot-to-kill order to policemen in
the performance of the duty by the police and soldiers, akin ‘yan (that
forgot about Sec. 1 Art. III of the 1987 Constitution, that “No person
law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”
resistance, and finds no other means to comply with his duty or cause
120744-46
14 US v. Campo 10 Phil. 97, 99-100
policeman could be justified in inflicting the injury or causing the
The right to kill an offender is not absolute, and may be used only as a
last resort, and under circumstances indicating that the offender cannot
otherwise be taken without bloodshed. The law does not clothe police officers
with authority to arbitrarily judge the necessity to kill. It may be true that
situation where an immediate and decisive, but legal, action is needed. However,
it must be stressed that the judgment and discretion of police officers in the
oppressively, but within reasonable limits. In the absence of a clear and legal
provision to the contrary, they must act in conformity with the dictates of a
sound discretion, and within the spirit and purpose of the law. We cannot
employ force and violence upon the persons they are apprehending. They must
always bear in mind that although they are dealing with criminal elements
against whom society must be protected, these criminals are also human
Court, police officers have taken to heart Duterte’s order as the power
that would make their jobs easier and a tool to take the law into their
hands. Police could easily use “nanlaban” as the magic word to justify
their killings, and no one would bat an eye. Thus, all victims have
The police have often washed their hands by saying that most
killings and not under police operations. But this fact is actually the
most alarming. Duterte has enabled not only the police but also
What the people do not realize is that this supposed drug war
motive, and it would seem the element that the victim was a drug
‘Class justice’
protection of the law, even if not on paper. People from the lower
class in the slums are met with bullets while the rich behind the
doors with flyers handed to their maids, informing them of the anti-
associated with the poor without asking why they were poor in the
first place. Thus, while the rich get flyers and daily reminders, the
not the poverty, but the people in poverty, which in turn is expected to
hunt suspected members of the New People’s Army.19 And much like
the way Tokhang is conducted in the cities, the police threaten the
18 Duterte urged to free 4 Bulacan farmers nabbed in the guise of anti-drug war.
http://bulatlat.com/main/2016/10/26/duterte-urged-free-4-bulacan-farmers-nabbed-guise-anti-drug-war/
19 Militants: Police, military using ‘tokhang’ to go after activists. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/850151/militants-
police-military-using-tokhang-to-go-after-activists
20 Christian D. Pangilinan, The Dispute Over Extrajudicial Killings: The Need to Define Extrajudicial Killings as
mine)
have unjustly used it to terrorize the poor communities and for other
Convention on Civil and Political Rights. The Supreme Court has also
human rights are upheld through the judicial writs of amparo and
habeas data. Our 1987 Constitution also provides a whole article for
look good on paper, but the government itself is the perpetrator for
21Christian D. Pangilinan, The Dispute Over Extrajudicial Killings: The Need to Define Extrajudicial Killings as
State-Sponsored Acts, 86 PHIL. L.J. 811, (page cited) (2012).
its violations. And extralegal killings, though they are not new under
state himself says he “does not care about human rights” and that he
would even kill the human rights activists if the drug problem
campaign is unfair, all the same. It twists the law for its self-serving
purpose.
22 Summary & Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines. A Submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council
for the Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines (3rd Cycle, 27th Session, 2017) Submitted by Ateneo Human
Rights Center (AHRC).
23 Duterte threatens to kill human rights activists if drug problem worsens.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/848933/duterte-threatens-to-kill-human-rights-activists-if-drug-problem-
worsens