SOME 29 cases involving alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) being investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) have been dropped following a lack of witnesses or reluctance of complainants to prosecute.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra revealed this on Tuesday when asked about the highlights of the 16th regular meeting of the AO 35 held last May 12.

AO 35 task force is a special unit of the DOJ that investigates politically-motivated killings or extrajudicial killings of members of civil society groups, political movements, and people’s and non-government organizations (NGOs).

“There were 29 EJK and torture cases in Regions IV and VIII that were delisted for lack of witnesses or lack of interest on the part of the complainants. Most of these cases reached the investigation stage at the PNP (Philippine National Police), CHR (Commission on Human Rights), and NPS (National Prosecution Service) levels only. The review of unsolved AO 35 cases in other regions is still going on,” Guevarra said.

On the other hand, cases involving enforced disappearances will remain to be investigated by the task force, Guevarra made the assurance.

Meanwhile, Guevarra said that a small working group was created to fast-track investigation and prosecution of cases of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations use of child combatants, use of land mines, etc.

“The IHL cases will be referred to the AO 35 working group. These are 263 incidents supported with records from regions IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VII, and VIII,” Guevarra said. By Hector Lawas

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Hector Lawas