PNP claims ‘rehashed narratives’ in drug war

MANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) is being fed “rehashed narratives” of alleged abuses by law enforcers as it proceeds with its preliminary examination on the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“The rehashed narratives of alleged abuses remain to be unfounded and devoid of truth from the beginning but had been repeatedly told and retold over and over to make (them) sound factual,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement, as he maintained that the over 6,000 deaths were a result of legitimate police anti-drug operations.

He added that police operations against crime, illegal drugs and terrorism were carried out in accordance with existing rules and procedures.

The PNP official stressed that law enforcers adhere to these policies to ensure transparency, accountability and respect for human rights.

The police force’s statement came after the ICC announced that it is aiming to finalize by next year its preliminary examination into the alleged crimes against humanity under the administration of President Duterte.

The preliminary examination was opened by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in February 2018 in response to complaints regarding thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings in the drug war.

The country’s formal withdrawal from the ICC this year did not stop Bensouda’s office from launching the preliminary examination.