There will be no sacred cows nor special treatment for police officials who will be implicated in the alleged extra judicial killings (EJK) due to illegal drugs.
This was the stern message of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ C. Remulla when he met the entire Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy in a command conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“There are no sacred cows in this institution and in this investigation. Anyone who is found guilty will be treated like any other and treated as such," Remulla said.
"There will be no special treatment. They will not be accorded special privileges,” he added during a press briefing that followed after.
Remulla made the remarks after retired police colonel Royina Garma implicated police officers in the infamous EJKs during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the House Quad Comm hearing last 11 October, 2024.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, a total of 6,252 persons died in anti-illegal drugs operations from 1 July, 2016 to 31 May, 2022 as part of the war on drugs of the previous administration.
Remulla, however, pointed out that police officers involved, whether retired or in service, must not be blindly judged according to one witness’ testimony solely. He said that due process must still prevail.
“We have to understand that they are innocent until proven guilty. So, we must not judge them already according to testimonies. They have to go through the process,” the DILG Secretary underscored.
The DILG Chief said the Department will defer actions until the investigation of the House of Representatives has wrapped up.
“Let us wait until the final hearings and recommendations of the [House] Quad Comm are done and then subsequent actions will be taken," he said.
He noted that the Department had already conducted initial work but will not proceed until all testimonies are in and the Congress investigation concludes.