EJK check not slowing down — DoJ

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla assured the public on Tuesday the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) task force investigating the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) is not slowing down.

He said that although the task force, which was created to probe the Duterte drug war-related deaths, is dealing with a large volume of cases, it remains committed to holding the perpetrators accountable.

“It’s continuing. Everything is a work in progress. You know there is a process for that. We can’t answer all the questions overnight given the task we have, which includes a lot of backlog. But we’re here every day for the grind. That’s what’s important,” Remulla said.

The task force, officially established under Department Order 778 on 4 November 2024, was created to address the controversial drug war-related killings.

The task force is chaired by a Senior Assistant State Prosecutor, co-chaired by a Regional Prosecutor, and supported by nine members of the National Prosecution Service. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) plays a key role in supporting the task force.

‘It’s continuing. Everything is a work in progress. You know there is a process for that.’

The group is tasked with investigating incidents, building cases, and filing the appropriate charges against those involved in the killings during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

It is also directed to assist legislative bodies in their inquiries, specifically to coordinate with the House Quad Committee and the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which are conducting parallel investigations into the drug war.

The task force was created amid the heightened scrutiny by local and international human rights watchdogs into the Philippines’ human rights record, particularly during the controversial anti-drug campaign from 2016 to 2022.