In commemoration of Human Rights Day, Akbayan Partylist Rep. Chel Diokno revealed compelling evidence on the abuses committed during the so-called War on Drugs under former President Rodrigo Duterte and under the leadership of then-Philippine National Police chief, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.
According to the Office of the President’s 2017 year-end report submitted to the Supreme Court, 20,322 individuals were killed in the first 17 months of Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.
But in a privilege speech, Diokno refuted Duterte’s “nanlaban” claims by presenting police reports submitted by the Office of the Solicitor General to the High Court in the cases of Amora vs. Dela Rosa (G.R. No. 254564) and Dano vs. PNP (G.R. No. 234484).
Contained in the police reports were details about several killings where the same firearms–bearing identical serial numbers—were supposedly “recovered” from different suspects, in different locations, and on different dates, suggesting a pattern of evidence-planting during police operations.
One firearm—a Colt caliber .45 pistol with serial number 936185—was listed as “recovered” three different times in Quezon City police operations: first in Barangay San Bartolome on September 22, 2016; again in Barangay Talipapa on September 23, 2016; and once more in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon on November 30, 2016.
“Isipin po ninyo: isang baril pero tatlong beses daw ‘narekober’ sa tatlong magkaibang insidente, sa tatlong magkaibang petsa, sa tatlong magkaibang barangay,” Diokno said.
Based on the previous administration’s own filings, he said in Quezon City alone, there were at least seven firearms that appear to have been recycled in different police operations on different dates, involving different suspects who allegedly fought back and were killed.
Among them were a Colt Caliber .45 Pistol (Serial No. 361852), Remington Caliber .45 Pistol (Serial No. 047936), Remington Caliber .45 Pistol (Serial No. 793618), Colt Caliber .45 Pistol (Serial No. 9111243), Colt Caliber .45 Pistol (Serial No. 479361), and a Springfield Armory Caliber .45 Pistol (Serial No. 195859).
“In addition, there are also seven firearms with the same serial numbers but different descriptions as to make, model or caliber that were recovered in different police operations involving different suspects,” Diokno stressed.
“It is incumbent on the PNP to prove that these are different firearms. If they are the same, this means that at least 14 firearms were recycled by the QC Police from 2016-2018,” he added.
Diokno challenged fellow lawmakers to look into this, saying if proven that these pistols were recycled and planted, the government must go after those responsible and provide compensation to the families of those who were killed.
“Habang ipinagdiriwang natin ang Human Rights Day, huwag natin kalimutan ang mga EJK na nangyari sa nakaraang administrasyon,” he pointed out.
“May wasto at mas epektibong paraan para labanan ang droga, lalo na ang mga big-time drug lord. May tamang proseso para hulihin at panagutin ang kriminal. Pero hindi kailanman tama ang pagtanim ng ebidensya, at hindi kailanman tama ang pagpatay nang walang habas,” he added.
