MALACAÑANG insisted Tuesday that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte was not condoning "wanton and unjustified" killings.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that prior to the President's directive to task the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as sole agency to handle the drug war, police officers followed proper protocols in conducting anti-narcotics operations.
Abella's statement came after the European Union (EU), in its annual report, noted that the human rights situation in the Philippines has worsened during the second half of 2016 as a result of Duterte's implementation of war on illicit drugs.
The latest annual EU Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World said the second half of 2016 in the Philippines "was marked by a serious deterioration in respect for the right to life, due process and the rule of law."
Citing data from the Philippine National Police, the EU report emphasized that there have been 6,000 individuals slain from July to mid-December because of the drug war, with one-third of the deaths occurring in police operations.
The report also stressed the there was a "prevailing culture of impunity" in the country because of massive "unresolved" cases of human rights abuses, including killings of human rights defenders and media practitioners.
Abella, however, refuted the report, saying the administration does not tolerate any form of abuse.
"The State does not sanction wanton and unjustified killings. Impunity does not have a place in this Administration," he said.
Abella said the EU report was conducted at the time the Duterte administration was confronted with "rehashed criticisms" from his political detractors.
"We note, however, that the EU's report covers the period of last year's elections and many of its alleged findings are a rehash of criticisms aired by the political party whose candidate lost to the President," he added.
Abella further explained drug-related killings arising from legitimate police operations "have been done based on rules of engagement."
He added that the government's investigation into the spate of killings was ongoing to bring perpetrators to justice.
"Thus, while they remain as suspects, their violent resistance against police officers whose lives were put at risk is considered actionable offenses," he said. (SunStar Philippines)