Robredo calls for ‘serious investigation’ on extrajudicial killings

Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday urged authorities to "seriously investigate" the extrajudicial killings reported recently. 

In a statement on Wednesday morning, Robredo said she "strongly condemn[s] the spate" of these killings. 

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"These senseless and unjust violence must stop," she said. "We should not foster a culture of fear in our society—one that tacitly accepts death and one that does not give respect to human life."

The Vice President called on everyone to "stand together in defending our human rights, as well as the rights of those who cannot fight for themselves."

"The rise in extrajudicial killings is a call for all of us to uphold every person’s right to due process. Each of those Filipinos who were killed over alleged crimes were denied their right to a fair trial, and those lives may never be returned to their loved ones," she said.

Vigilantism

Robredo earlier raised concern over more than a hundred incidents of drug-related killings.

The Vice President reiterated her support for President Rodrigo Duterte and his drive against crime and illegal drugs through lawful means, but said she is worried over the "growing culture of vigilantism and violence" seen in recent weeks.

"Feeling ko naman hindi niya (Duterte) iko-condone 'yung parang vigilante style na execution. 'Yung nakakabahala lang kasi marami na talaga. Ang nakakabahala rito, baka nagki-create na tayo ng culture of people taking law into their own hands, na hindi din dapat," she said in a separate briefing.

She added: "Kasi hindi naman puwedeng pabayaan... Kaya naman tayo may mga courts kasi sila 'yung final arbiter kung sino ang nagkasala. Kasi kung tayu-tayo lang ang magdedesisyon, talagang grabe na 'yung disorder na mangyayari."

While she was not able to raise this concern in the past Cabinet meeting where the administration's anti-drug drive was discussed, Robredo said she intends to say something about extrajudicial killings "when it comes up" in future meetings.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 194 drug suspects were killed from July 1 to 19.

Meanwhile, 103,375 suspected drug users and pushers voluntarily surrendered to authorities, and another 2,901 individuals were arrested within the same period.

PNP chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa has said he does not condone extrajudicial killings.

In a separate statement, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said investigations are ongoing on the killings of drug suspects during police operations.

Carlos, meanwhile, called on those questioning the legality of the arrests to file their complaints.

The PNP's Anti-Illegal Drugs Group head Senior Superintendent Albert Ignatius Ferro has asked the public "not to generalize" the killings of drug suspects as summary executions. —KG/ALG, GMA News