Include perpetrators of EJK and drug-related killings on crackdown
A CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION
We, a network of human rights movement, faith-based institutions, and community-based people’s organizations both in rural and urban areas, appreciate the effort done by the government in ridding this country of crime and drugs that have ruined the lives and even the moral fiber of our nation for a long time.
In the process of realizing a clean and crime-free society, some bad elements may have taken advantage of the situation and, alongside with the crackdown of the police force, run a rampage killing civilians allegedly involved in drugs. The saddening fact is that the killings also included innocent civilians whose family claimed they were never involved in drugs.
The fact is whether involved or not, these individuals should have been arrested and have had their chance to defend themselves according to our law. Their cold bodies should not just be a number, and neither should they serve as warning to the people of doom, as in the medieval times. Their deaths are not drama scenes we can just look on and forget. They are humans and fellow Filipinos, who have the right as we all do to defend themselves in court.
THESE KILLINGS MUST STOP. Be it summary execution carried out by masked assailants, or casualties of “reported encounter.” Be it reported as accidental upon subduing suspected criminals.
WE CALL FOR DUE PROCESS
The President must be true to his promise that he will adhere to the rule of law in dealing with the criminality in our land. We call for independent investigation on all cases of human rights abuses. Killings and abuses must stop. The human rights of all people regardless of their background must be observed.
We call for an independent investigation on the following cases:
- Summary execution perpetrated by rogue assailants to suspected criminals: There have been several cases that even mothers were killed in front of their children in public and in the process, they were tagged as drug pushers without due process. This is a crime.
- Police arrest resulting in death of suspected criminals: We call for independent investigation on the deaths caused by officials in uniform be it accident or tagged as subduing resisting criminals.
- Arbitrary arrest of suspected criminals without evidence: many juvenile and adult have been arrested merely for suspicion and association. Many names were listed guilty just because their neighbors or friends are suspected drug users.
We cannot rely on promises of “good faith” and neither can we just watch and believe in “clear intentions.” Thorough and independent investigation is needed.
UPHOLD HUMAN RIGHTS. Pursue the perpetrators of extra-judical killings and hold them accountable as the drug offenders or as any other criminals according to the rule of law.
