Offcials defend drug war before SC, deny state killings

Government officials yesterday defended President Duterte’s war on drugs during the continuation of oral arguments on the petitions against Oplan Tokhang before the Supreme Court (SC).

Denying government backing on the killings of drug suspects, Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the SC to dismiss the petitions filed last month by rights groups Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and Center for International Law (CenterLaw).

Calida said the petitions are “disingenuous moves to destabilize the Duterte administration and sow anarchy.”

He argued that the petitions seeking to stop the implementation of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Oplan Double Barrel and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s “Masa Masid” project, if granted, could be detrimental to the government and pose grave threats to the nation.

“The petitions intend to drive a wedge between the President on the one hand, and the PNP and DILG on the other, inciting disobedience to the Chief Executive and depriving him of his powers and prerogatives; and emasculate the government’s police powers by rendering inutile the PNP’s sworn mandate to enforce the law and maintain peace and order. The court should not let these happen because they will have long-term, catastrophic effects on the nation’s stability and security,” Calida said.

He also invoked the power of the executive branch to implement its programs, warning that granting the petitions would be tantamount to undue interference with the operations of the co-equal branch.

“Under Oplan Tokhang, 8,247,489 houses were visited and 1,262,188 drug personalities have voluntarily surrendered. This is unprecedented,” Calida said.

The chief government counsel rebutted the argument of the petitioners that Oplan Double Barrel and Masa Masid violate constitutional right to due process, right to privacy, right against unreasonable search and seizure and right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Calida noted the failure of the petitioners to present proof that the killings of drug suspects, especially those by vigilante groups, were sanctioned or sponsored by the government.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa, who was required by the SC to appear at the hearing, supported Calida’s statements when he faced the justices during interpellation.

Asked by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen if he gave an order to the policemen to kill drug suspects, Dela Rosa replied, “Never. Neutralize means arrest, having the suspect surrender or killing suspect only at very extreme situation as a result of legitimate police operations.”

He assured the high court that cases of extrajudicial killings are being investigated.

The oral arguments on the petitions against the drug war will resume on Dec. 5.

FLAG filed the petition for two victims of extrajudicial killings identified as Ryan Dave Almora and Rex Appari and a survivor, Jefferson Soriano, in police anti-narcotics operations.

CenterLaw lodged the petition for the families of 35 alleged drug suspects killed in anti-narcotics operations over the past year and other residents of San Andres Bukid in Manila.

Meanwhile, the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) said a number of police officers involved in illegal activities have been slapped with sanctions.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said they have filed administrative charges against 1,798 police personnel since January this year. Of the number, 797 were sanctioned.

Of the 797 police officers, 375 were dismissed from the service while 114 were demoted. –