The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) revealed that many police stations across the country are denying their requests for records related to alleged extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the previous administration's anti-drug campaign.
CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc said during a recent interview that the agency has encountered significant resistance from various police units when requesting documentation that could shed light on the controversial killings that occurred during the "war on drugs."
"We have been consistently met with denials and excuses when we request these crucial documents," Palpal-latoc stated. "This lack of cooperation is hindering our ability to conduct thorough investigations and provide justice to the families of victims."
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Police stations have been reluctant to release EJK-related documents to CHR investigators.
The CHR chief emphasized that these records are essential for establishing patterns and accountability in cases where civilians were killed during police anti-drug operations. The commission is mandated by law to investigate human rights violations and has the authority to request relevant documents from government agencies.
According to official data, thousands of suspected drug users and dealers were killed during police operations from 2016 to 2022. However, human rights groups claim the actual number could be much higher when including vigilante-style killings.
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The CHR is calling on the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership to issue clear directives to all stations to cooperate fully with human rights investigations and provide requested documentation without delay.
