Police refuse to share case files with CHR to protect victims, suspects

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa said Saturday they were hesitant to forward to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) the records related to drug killings and suspected human rights violations that are under investigation because they are mandated to protect all those involved, either civilians or police personnel.

“Mahirap na basta request ibigay na natin hindi ba. May limitasyon din tayo kaya meron tayong mga document security (category). Not really to hide something but in order to protect each and every individual involved in that incident, not only ‘yung pulis na nag-operate but pati na rin ‘yung mga biktima (We can't just grant any request. There is a limitation which is why we have document security categories, not really to hide something but in order to protect every individual involved in the case, not just the police who conducted the operation, but also the victims,” he said when asked how he will respond to a CHR request for access to the case folders.

Even in cases that have been resolved, Dela Rosa said careful evaluation is still needed before the records are forwarded to any agency.

“Bakit pa gusto nila? Meron naman spot report, ‘yung spot report na binibigay namin it will supply all the needed details na gusto nila (Why do they want it when we have spot reports, which already provides all the details),” said Dela Rosa.

In August, officials of the PNP, Department of Interior and Local Government and CHR met and agreed that as part of their information sharing,