AN ORGANIZATION of lawyers has urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to release information in connection with its 'Operation One Time Big Time,' for the sake of transparency.
In a statement, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) National President Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo said they have already released formal requests for the PNP to release information such as the pre-operation and spot reports on its recent anti-drug sweep.
About 91 individuals were reported killed as a result of the operation in the National Capital Region and in the provinces of Bulacan and Cavite.
Among those killed in the bloody operations between August 13 to 20 was 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos from Caloocan City.
The IBP recognized that there is an ongoing battle against illegal drugs and the narco-politicians coddling them but they said that killing should not be an option to rid the country of drugs.
Fajardo believes that the state action should not be called war on drugs as it leads people to perceive that there must be physical casualty on its implementation.
"Describing State action as a “war” has led to the mistaken collective sense that there must be actual physical casualty in its wake – whether direct or collateral," said Fajardo.
The IBP hopes that the PNP will release the documents they are requesting for.
"We are desirous of a favorable response from the Philippine National Police which prides itself to be among the agencies that have enthusiastically taken the cudgels of transparency," said the group.
The death of alleged rug runner Delos Santos has sparked protests from various groups, with many urging the government to stop its bloody war on drugs which they claimed to be against the poor. (SunStar Philippines)