The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) “Oplan Tokhang” campaign violates the rights of alleged drug users and pushers, Senator Richard Gordon said on Tuesday.
Gordon said he indicated this in the draft report of the Senate justice and human rights committee, which investigated cases of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) amid the administration’s war on drugs.
“‘Yung mga tokhang-tokhang, may violation yan ng constitutional rights ng mga tao. Kailangan may abogado at kailangang dagdagan ang turo sa mga tao ng kanilang constitutional rights against self incrimination at tsaka yong kanilang mga rights against rogue policemen,” Gordon pointed out.
Gordon said a lawyer should be present when a suspected drug user and pusher admits his or her use of illegal drugs.
“Hindi nga nag surrender eh. Pinapapunta nila tapos 'o pumirma ka na ikaw ay dating drug addict',” he said.
Oplan Tokhang refers to the PNP's campaign of going house to house in communities to appeal to drug suspects to surrender and stop using and selling drugs.
The PNP reported to have visited more than four million houses since it started its intensified campaign against illegal drugs in July.
Based on data from police regional offices as of 6 a.m. November 24, a total of 4,041,333 houses have been visited under Oplan Tokhang.
Committee report
Gordon said the draft report is already being circulated for the signatures of committee members.
Some of the proposals he said include setting a definite timeline on concluding a case of EJK “Ang sinabi ko within 15 days tapos kaagad ang summary hearings, tanggal kaagad o suspendido [yung pulis] at i-file yong criminal case,” Gordon said.
Several cops have been alleged to be involved in several EJKs. Gordon said he also recommended for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to require larger plate numbers for motorcycles, which are commonly used in EJK cases.
Gordon reiterated that EJKs were not state-sponsored as alleged by the President’s critics. He said witnesses earlier presented by Senator Leila de Lima to the committee neither proves the existence of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS).
Duterte was accused by witness Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed assassin, to have ordered the killings of several people in Davao City during his term as mayor.
Bad behavior
Meanwhile, Gordon said the committee report also included the bad behavior of Senators De Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV.
Gordon was referring to De Lima’s alleged material concealment of evidence, concerning a kidnapping case of Matobato.
He had also earlier called out Trillanes, whom he said deliberately allowed Matobato to go home while the hearing was ongoing. Matobato is under the custody of Senator Trillanes.
Gordon said however that it was up to the Senate whether it will pursue an ethics complaint against the two senators.
“I will leave it up to the Senate to do that. Hindi ko na inilagay na recommended for ethics. It would be up to the Senate,” he said.
Gordon said he indicated this in the draft report of the Senate justice and human rights committee, which investigated cases of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) amid the administration’s war on drugs.
“‘Yung mga tokhang-tokhang, may violation yan ng constitutional rights ng mga tao. Kailangan may abogado at kailangang dagdagan ang turo sa mga tao ng kanilang constitutional rights against self incrimination at tsaka yong kanilang mga rights against rogue policemen,” Gordon pointed out.
Gordon said a lawyer should be present when a suspected drug user and pusher admits his or her use of illegal drugs.
“Hindi nga nag surrender eh. Pinapapunta nila tapos 'o pumirma ka na ikaw ay dating drug addict',” he said.
Oplan Tokhang refers to the PNP's campaign of going house to house in communities to appeal to drug suspects to surrender and stop using and selling drugs.
The PNP reported to have visited more than four million houses since it started its intensified campaign against illegal drugs in July.
Based on data from police regional offices as of 6 a.m. November 24, a total of 4,041,333 houses have been visited under Oplan Tokhang.
Committee report
Gordon said the draft report is already being circulated for the signatures of committee members.
Some of the proposals he said include setting a definite timeline on concluding a case of EJK “Ang sinabi ko within 15 days tapos kaagad ang summary hearings, tanggal kaagad o suspendido [yung pulis] at i-file yong criminal case,” Gordon said.
Several cops have been alleged to be involved in several EJKs. Gordon said he also recommended for the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to require larger plate numbers for motorcycles, which are commonly used in EJK cases.
Gordon reiterated that EJKs were not state-sponsored as alleged by the President’s critics. He said witnesses earlier presented by Senator Leila de Lima to the committee neither proves the existence of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS).
Duterte was accused by witness Edgar Matobato, a self-confessed assassin, to have ordered the killings of several people in Davao City during his term as mayor.
Bad behavior
Meanwhile, Gordon said the committee report also included the bad behavior of Senators De Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV.
Gordon was referring to De Lima’s alleged material concealment of evidence, concerning a kidnapping case of Matobato.
He had also earlier called out Trillanes, whom he said deliberately allowed Matobato to go home while the hearing was ongoing. Matobato is under the custody of Senator Trillanes.
Gordon said however that it was up to the Senate whether it will pursue an ethics complaint against the two senators.
“I will leave it up to the Senate to do that. Hindi ko na inilagay na recommended for ethics. It would be up to the Senate,” he said.
Source: gmanetwork
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