A POLICE official insists that there is no need for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to investigate the Philippines’ war on drug campaign pointing out that the justice system in the country is functioning.
Alfegar Triambulo, Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Internal Affairs Service (IAS) inspector general, said this is based on his background as an officer tasked to probe policemen accused of violating police procedures and regulations.
Triambulo, a lawyer who is not a non-police force member appointed in 2016, said the country’s Criminal Justice System is still functioning, contrary to the accusations of human rights watchdogs claiming the existence of extrajudicial killing (EJK) ordered by the President Rodrigo Duterte in line with his illegal drug campaign.
He said the country’s justice system pillars, composed of the community; law enforcement; prosecution; courts; and corrections, are all functioning.
“Alin doon sa mga pillars ang hindi nagagawan na dapat nila panghimasukan? (Which of these pillars that lacks implementation that they have to interfere?),” Triambulo said on Saturday during the Davao Media Forum at Penongs Sta. Ana.
In a previous report, Malacañang called the UNHRC resolution, which was filed by the country Iceland, is a clear insult to country’s sovereignty to address its own social issues. They even call it “one-sided, outrageously narrow, and maliciously partisan”.
Triambulo, meanwhile, there is no need for the UNHRC to visit and probe the country because the details, updates, and the “real count” of the government’s campaign is being provided by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), the government’s lead communication arm.
“‘Di naman sila dineprive in terms of updates on the government’s war on drugs. Andiyan naman ang PCOO (They were not deprived with the government’s update on the war on drugs as it is being provided by PCOO),” he said.
In a recent report provided by PCOO, PNP reported 5,526 drug suspects were killed from July 1, 2016 until June 30 this year.
PNP also said that 193,086 drug suspects were arrested in the last three years, 421,275 surrendered and were sent to recovery programs, and 134,583 anti-drug operations were held, with 7,054 involving high-value targets.
However, human rights groups claim that the data is not accurate. (RGL)