DOJ may probe drug killings

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) under the incoming administration may look into the recent spate of killings of drug suspects.

Incoming justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II bared this yesterday as the number of drug suspects slain all over the country since the May 9 polls continues to climb.

Based on reports of The STAR, the number of drug suspects killed has reached 59 as of last weekend. Most cases involved those who supposedly fought it out with arresting police officers.

There are also a few cases, like in Cagayan and Isabela provinces, where suspects were killed in ambush by unidentified men.

Aguirre stressed that the DOJ would be ready to investigate should families of drug suspects killed either in police operations or ambush file complaints with the department.

“Once a complaint is filed on this matter, the DOJ will investigate and determine if there is probable cause to file a case against anyone,” he told The STAR.

Aguirre also clarified previous statements of incoming president Rodrigo Duterte allowing law enforcement authorities to kill drug suspects in their anti-narcotics operations.

He said it was not a blanket authorization for policemen to kill drug suspects, or any criminal suspect, without provocation or justification. “President Rody’s pronouncement is for the police authorities to kill drug suspects who would threaten their lives by fighting back.”

Aguirre also gave assurance that the DOJ would be fair in its investigations on killings of drug suspects despite Duterte’s serious campaign against the illegal drug trade in the country.

“The DOJ will follow procedures and the rule of law at all times under the Duterte administration,” he added.

Anti-drug campaign in BuCor

Aguirre also reiterated the plan of the incoming administration to start an anti-illegal drug campaign in the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), an attached agency of the DOJ supervising the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) and other penitentiaries in the country.

“The biggest drug lords there (in Bilibid) are able to manufacture drugs inside. BuCor employees are also involved so we have to institute more reforms. If we need to replace all jail guards there, we will,” he explained.

Earlier, he confirmed that 75 percent of drug transactions occur inside the NBP in Muntinlupa City, with convicted drug lords still operating despite their incarceration.

“That figure (75 percent) is correct. The supplies of illegal drugs even come from mainland China,” he bared.

The NBP has become a drug haven despite the series of raids dubbed “Oplan Galugad” launched by the BuCor since November last year.

Just last week, several high-profile inmates at NBP wrote to the DOJ denying reports that they are plotting to kill Duterte.

In a three-page manifesto, 16 of the high-profile inmates isolated at Building 14 of the national penitentiary said they are not part of any conspiracy of top drug and crime lords to raise a P1-billion bounty for the heads of Duterte and incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa.

Expressing fear for their safety, they called on Duterte to send a representative to the penitentiary to check on their situation as they reiterated their call to be returned to their previous detention facilities in the maximum and medium security compounds.  

Political rivalry

Earlier, Duterte also said 32 mayors have protected drug dealers and even used drug money in their electoral campaigns.

“Watch out. As long as I’m in government, I will not allow it,” Duterte warned.

Dela Rosa said local officials involved in the illegal drug trade would not be spared from the PNP’s effort to stop the drug menace.

But PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez said in some cases, the information linking local officials to illegal drug operations are floated by their political rivals.

“As a matter of routine procedure in one law enforcement agency or interior, when we receive a report, the next logical thing that happens is to validate those reports. But in some cases, we found out that the reason was jealousy,” he added.

In some cases, however, reports turned out to be true and local officials involved in illegal drugs were arrested, according to Marquez.

He also noted that prosecution of the arrested dealers and users of illegal drugs is not part of PNP’s jurisdiction.

“It’s (prosecution) another process, prosecutorial and judicial, obviously beyond the jurisdiction and capacity of law enforcement,” he explained.

PNP to step in

Marquez also said the PNP leadership would step into the conflict between policemen from Central Luzon-Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) and the National Capital Regional Police Office  (NCRPO).

Operatives of the NCRPO said they were on a legitimate police operation to arrest big-time drug traffickers last Wednesday at a checkpoint in Baliuag, Bulacan, but they were intercepted by members of the RSOG. – With Cecile Suerte Felipe