CHR may subpoena police files on drug killings

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) may use subpoena powers to gain access to the thousands of police case files involving those who died in relation to the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

As this developed, the Liberal Party (LP) urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to turn over to the CHR the task of investigating the killings that have taken place since the campaign started. It also welcomed the administration’s pronouncement that it would reevaluate its war on drugs.

CHR Chairman Chito Gascon expressed dismay over reports that President Duterte has ordered the PNP not to share with them the case files of those who died during police operations and those whose deaths are believed to be drug-related.

“It is unfortunate that the instructions of the President to the PNP is not to share with CHR copies of the case folders that we had requested. These are pubic documents and official records that – in the public interest – should be made readily available to other agencies, the media and other stakeholders and the public at large,” Gascon said.

“We shall await formal notice of this denial and will consider all options available to us to obtain the information necessary to be able to conduct a thorough inquiry into these killings, including invoking the executive order on the freedom of information and possibly issuing subpoena,” he added.

The CHR, which is mandated by the Constitution to ensure that the government upholds its human rights obligations, may issue subpoenas during the course of an investigation that it is conducting.

Department of the Interior and Local Government officerin-charge Catalino Cuy said on Friday that the President has denied the CHR’s request for access to the case files.

Gascon said the denial is against the spirit and intent of the freedom of information executive order signed by Duterte.

He added they will use the agreed mechanisms of the CHR with the PNP to thresh out concerns and clarify the importance of cooperation between the different agencies.