Malacañang said Monday that the Duterte administration’s anti-drugs campaign is not perfect, just like any other government program.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this in response to comments made by Vice President Leni Robredo that the Department of Justice’s action of referral of drug war deaths in police operations to the National Bureau of Investigation proves that there are lapses in the administration’s flagship program.
“Well, I think like any other government program, we cannot claim to be perfect. Pero ang sinasabi natin, huwag naman iyong gawain ng ilang mga bugok ay maapektuhan iyong buong programa [But what we are saying is, the deeds of the rotten few should not affect the entire program],” Roque said.
Roque then said that the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to refer the drug war deaths to the NBI for case build-up, which was reached after reviewing 52 cases, shows the government’s commitment to serve justice to victims.
“This is proves that the government is fulfilling its obligation to prosecute and punish those who commit murder. Nothing is perfect and the DOJ’s findings prove that the government is fulfilling its obligation as far as right to life is concerned,” Roque added.
Based on police records, at least 7,000 people have been killed during the police’s anti-drug operations since 2016, though drug war critics and human rights groups say that the actual toll is much higher.
The DOJ, however, has only reviewed 352 of these cases and only released findings on 52 cases.
Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) pre-trial chamber found reasonable grounds to probe the Duterte administration for alleged crimes against humanity due to systematic killing of citizens in pursuit of a state policy of anti-drug war.
Duterte earlier said that he will prepare his defense after he steps down from office on June 30, 2022. — BM, GMA News
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Source: Balita News
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