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The constitutionally mandated association of Filipino lawyers on Wednesday slammed the alarming spate of what are reported to be extrajudicial killings amid the Duterte administration’s relentless war against illegal drugs, as it urged the government to uphold the rule of law.
While acknowledging the “staggering proportions” of the drug problem that has plagued the country, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said the increasing death toll of suspected drug perpetrators deserves “serious attention” from authorities.
“[T]he Integrated Bar of the Philippines applauds the very serious efforts of the present administration to seriously address this grave problem,” the IBP said in a statement.
“However, we are a nation of laws and not of men and, as such, must never lose sight of the very foundation of our democracy, the idea that the rule of law must prevail. It is at times such as these, when the temptation to take extralegal measures is at its height, that our conviction to abide by this principle must likewise be at its strongest,” it added.
The IBP also urged the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Office of the Ombudsman, and other law enforcement agencies to “give due attention” to “serious and credible” investigation of the unresolved drug-related deaths and to prosecute wrongdoers “to the full extent of the law.”
“It must not be forgotten that regardless of whether or not the victim is a drug offender, unjustified killing is murder nonetheless. Likewise, while our law enforcers have every right, and even the duty, to utilize deadly force when necessary to protect themselves and innocent bystanders, the abuse of this authority is equally criminal,” the organization said.
“In ending, the situations call for recalling the Supreme Court’s reminder in the case of Allado vs. Diokno, to wit: ‘While the State has every right to prosecute and punish violators of the law, this does not confer a license for pointless assaults on its citizens… The right of the State to prosecute is not a carte blanche for government agents to defy and disregard the rights of its citizens under the Constitution.
‘The Constitution’s Bill of Rights guarantees the preservation of the people’s natural rights which include personal liberty and security against invasion by the government or any of its branches or instrumentalities. Certainly, in the hierarchy of rights, the Bill of Rights takes precedence over the right of the State to prosecute…,’” it added.
As of July 25, the PNP said 289 suspects were killed, 3,974 arrested and 130,014 voluntarily surrendered amid the campaign against illegal drugs.
A count by INQUIRER.net’s “Kill List,” however, notes 411 deaths between May 10, the day after President Rodrigo Duterte won the elections, and July 21.
READ: THE KILL LIST
The IBP statement was signed by Rosario Setias-Reyes, national president and chairman of the board; Abdiel Dan Elijah Fajardo, executive vice president and governor for Western Visayas; Franklin Calpito; governor for Northern Luzon; Jose dela Rama Jr., governor for Central Luzon; Romeo Igot, governor for Greater Manila; Bienvenido Somera Jr., governor for Southern Luzon; Mae Elaine Bathan, governor for Eastern Visayas; Emerson Aquende, governor for Bicolandia; Caesar Europa, governor for Eastern Mindanao. TVJ
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