JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday defended the conduct of the controversial anti-drug war campaign of the Duterte administration, saying it made the streets safer, but acknowledged there were abuses committed by the police.
Guevarra said among the manifestations of success of the crackdown against illegal drugs was the “visible reduction” of incidents of drug pushing at the street level and the arrest and prosecution of those engaged in the narcotics trade.
“Our streets are safer, nabawasan na ang mga adik, in that aspect the campaign against drugs was fairly successful. People now feel safer in the streets even at night,” Guevarra told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
However, he said they are aware of the “excesses” of the crackdown, adding this is the reason why the DOJ is reviewing police anti-drug operations where deaths occurred.
“But there are excesses, that is why the DOJ has a campaign to address the abuses committed by law enforcement,” he added.
He said the National Bureau of Investigation has also filed five complaints related to 52 cases the DOJ had earlier reviewed and the NBI has investigated for possible criminal case proceedings.
Last March, Guevarra said the DOJ is also set to endorse to the NBI 250 more cases involving deaths arising from anti-drug operations in Central Luzon. This, he added, is proof that domestic mechanisms to address the excesses are working.
An initial report disclosed by the DOJ late last year noted anomalies in the reports submitted by policemen involved in the crackdown, including missing autopsy reports and death certificates, lack of ballistic and paraffin test results, contradictory statements of policemen and the use of excessive force.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police, over 6,000 have been killed in drug operations since President Duterte assumed power in 2016. But human rights groups claimed the number is more than 30,000.
Critics also said the crackdown targeted mostly the poor, while some of the alleged big-time drug lords such as Peter Lim have not been caught.
