PNP solidly behind DOJ probe into EJKs
THE Philippine National Police will fully support the investigation of “extra-judicial killings” that happened during the bloody 6-year war on drugs by the former Rodrigo Duterte administration, its spokesperson said.
“The PNP will support and closely coordinate with the National Bureau of Investigation and DOJ in their efforts to come up with a credible investigation with respect to the sensational cases mentioned during the congressional hearing. And of course including those questionable police operations that resulted in the deaths of so many,” said Brigadier General Jean S. Fajardo.
Although PNP chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil has also ordered an investigation of a number of celebrated cases mentioned during the previous hearings of the Quad Committee of the House of Representatives, the PNP spokesperson said the DOJ move is a welcome development as the PNP has been supportive to the efforts of the DOJ in conducting investigations.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla early this week ordered the creation of a DOJ task force composed of DOJ prosecutors and investigators from the NBI to investigate so-called “EJKs” that happened as a result of the Duterte presidency’s war on drugs.
The DOJ task force will “investigate, assist in the conduct of case build-up, and if warranted, file the appropriate criminal charges in court against the perpetrators and all those involved in extrajudicial killings during the previous administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.”
The task force and the PNP are also coordinating with the Quadcom and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the previous government’s anti-drug crackdown which left around 6,200 suspected drug personalities dead.
Investigators from the two agencies are also getting the help of other relevant government agencies including the Commission on Human Rights to effectively gather information needed to build-up cases against suspects in those EJKs.
According to the PNP spokesperson, the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headed by Brig. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III is already conducting an investigation on special cases that cropped up during the Quadcom hearings, including the assassination of then Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board secretary, retired Police General Wesley Barayuga on July 30, 2020 in Mandaluyong City.
Brig. Gen. Fajardo said they expect the PNP-CIDG and the NBI to jointly file criminal charges for murder and frustrated murder against the accused and added that the two law enforcement units are already closely coordinating with each other in order to come up with a credible investigation regarding the matter.
“This is not the first time that the PNP and the NBI will join forces versus individuals accused of involvement in major crimes. Remember the Degamo case,” she said referring to the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others inside the governor’s compound in Pamplona municipality on March 4, 2023.
The joint PNP-NBI investigation led in the filing of multiple murder cases against a number of suspects led by Negros Oriental (3rd District ) Representative Arnolfo Teves who was eventually expelled from Congress and is now in Timor Leste.
“There will be no sacred cows here. The Chief,PNP had made it clear, even the SILG had made it clear. Walang sasantuhin, regardless kung sino tatamaan as long as the evidence will support the filing of cases versus individuals found liable in those questionable cases,” said Brig. Gen. Fajardo.
The official said Gen. Marbil has ordered a review of those “cold cases,” not only limited to deaths association with so-called Death Squads but all killings that happened during the previous administration.
