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‘ICC probed talked to 50 PNP members on drug war’
By Nidz Godino
“ICC investigators have already directly communicated with more than 50 active and former PNP officials regarding their being implicated in crimes against humanity case of Rodrigo Duterte,” former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said in post on X representatives of International Criminal Court have communicated with around 50 active and former officials of Philippine National Police (PNP) in connection with ICC’s probe into drug war launched by former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Trillanes, staunch critic of Duterte, based his statement on what he described as highly credible information.
Police officials would face dire consequences should they refuse to cooperate with ICC investigators looking into alleged human rights abuses in course of Duterte’s brutal crackdown on illegal drugs, according to the former senator and Navy officer.
“Their status would be elevated to being suspects and, therefore, would result to travel restrictions initially and eventually arrest via Interpol,” he said.
Over 6,000 drug suspects were killed in alleged shootouts with lawmen during Duterte’s term, based on government records.
Sought for comment, PNP chief information officer Col. Jean Fajardo did not confirm or deny that ICC probers have talked with some police officers.
She maintained PNP is aware of the investigations related to anti-drug campaign during Duterte’s presidency but said they are taking their cue from national government, which stated country has working judicial system.
“We have courts that can judge abuses and irregularities within ranks of PNP and we have proven this as we already have policemen who were arrested, tried and convicted, so that is what PNP is going to do, it will be under jurisdiction of the Philippines,” she said at Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum.
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Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reiterated government is “serious” in its efforts to stop extrajudicial killings (EJK) and uphold human rights.
He issued statement in response to 2023 report by US Department of State that found EJKs remained “serious problem” in the Philippines and there were no significant changes in the country’s human rights situation.
Remulla said government is taking steps in holding accountable erring law enforcers and to change their mindset and attitude.
Over 13,114 kilos of marijuana and shabu and 7,412,292 pieces of marijuana plants worth P32.6 billion have been seized under administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., data presented by Fajardo during news forum show.
Illegal drugs were confiscated in 87,274 police operations from July 1, 2022 to April 22, 2024.
Also included are 1.4 tons of shabu valued at P9.68 billion intercepted in Alitagtag, Batangas, last April 15.
“This is biggest shipment of shabu that we have seized…but not one person died…no one died, no one was shot, no one was hurt,” Marcos said at the time.
Fajardo said holistic approach is needed to eradicate illegal drugs in the country wherein law enforcement agencies such as PNP and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency are working together with local government units and other sectors of society.
For his part, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said while billions worth of drug hauls in the past two years show success of Marcos’ campaign against illegal drugs, this shows necessity to protect country’s porous shorelines.
“We must protect our shorelines…we must work hand in hand with Philippine Coast Guard…on the part of PNP, they have maritime patrol but those are so few,” he said.
Meanwhile, crime volume in the country under Marcos administration has dropped by nearly 64 percent, according to PNP.
Fajardo said there were 71,133 focus crimes recorded from July 1, 2022 to April 21.… This is lower by 63.79 percent compared to 196,420 crimes documented from July 1, 2016 to April 21, 2018, during Duterte presidency.
Among eight focus crimes, physical injury had biggest decline from 41,614 to 9,229 cases, drop of 77.82 percent.
Robbery cases went down 71.28 percent, from 30,167 to 8,664, Fajardo said.
Motorcycle theft declined 69.83 percent, from 11,428 to 3,448. Theft cases were down 66.64 percent, from 70,230 to 23,429 incidents.
Cases of murder decreased from 18,505 to 7,650, drop of 58.66 percent.
Fajardo said car theft went down from 1,073 to 490 cases, decrease of 54.33 percent.
Cases of homicide also decreased by 51.98 percent, from 4,236 to 2,034.
Rape cases, on the other hand, declined from 19,167 to 16,189, or drop of 15.54 percent.
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