Police filed cases even vs. dead drug war suspects—lawyer

Police officials have filed criminal charges against survivors of the drug war and even the dead suspects, a lawyer and a former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) executive said Tuesday.

Lawyer Kristina Conti of the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) and Joel Sarmenta, consultant of former Commission on Human Rights chairperson Chito Gascon, made the testimony during the continuation of the QuadComm probe on the drug war of the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Sarmenta said that the police filed a direct assault case against Harold Arevalo, a survivor of a police anti-drug operation. Arevalo was acquitted of the charges.

“Harold Arevalo was acquitted on November 17, 2017 for the direct assault charge, which therefore belies the claim of “nanlaban” (resisting arrest). And further decisions by the Ombudsman and also a decision from the Office of the President which was released on May 25, 2022 before Mr. [Rodrigo] Duterte stepped down also stated Arevalo was acquitted,” Sarmenta said.

“That is why I would ask the body to subpoena Harold for him to appear here because nobody has ever talked to him,” he added.

Conti, who serves as counsel for the drug war victims, said there were cases when the police would charge even those killed in the anti-illegal drug operations.

“I would affirm the fact of filing of charges against the victims po. Marami rin po kaming kaso na ganyan na kung sa kanila po, ‘yung survivor, kinasuhan ng frustrated murder, sa amin, ‘yung iba, patay na, kinakasuhan pa po. Kasi parang ang gustong sabihin ng pulis na totoo na nanlaban, drug addict ito. Kaya kakasuhan namin ng illegal drug possession,” Conti said.

“And that is pointless kasi po hindi pwedeng kasuhan ng patay. Kaya po perhaps as a suggestion, Mr. Chair, perhaps the PNP could identify how many cases they have filed against deceased persons or even those that are drug-related para makita kung may silbi ba ito sa atin o kung gumagastos lang tayo ng pera para roon sa kanilang naratibo na mali naman pala,” Conti added, referring to the Philippine National Police.

QuadComm lead chairperson and Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers tasked the PNP to submit the data requested by Conti.

Police Major General Nicolas Salvador responded that the PNP would comply with the said request.

Based on government records, there are at least 6,000 suspects killed in the anti-drug police operations.

Human rights groups, however, have tallied 30,000 drug suspects killed, including those gunned down by supposed vigilantes.

Former President Duterte has offered no apologies for his drug war policy and even dared the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate him for crimes against humanity as soon as possible. —LDF, GMA Integrated News

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