CHR wants probe of more ‘nanlaban’ cases after dismissal of ‘Tokhang’ cop
Credit to Author: ggaviola| Date: Fri, 05 Apr 2019 09:07:15 +0000
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is urging government to investigate other cases where drug suspects allegedly resisted arrest (nalaban) during ‘Oplan Tokhang’ operations after the dismissal of a Manila police officer who shot dead a supposed drug suspect with epilepsy in 2017.
CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement on Friday that the ‘nanlaban’ narrative has already been an overused claim by law enforcers in the war on drugs.
“An overused narrative claimed by state agents in the middle of the campaign against illegal drugs, we urge the government to investigate and shed light to thousands of other unlawful aggression (nanlaban) cases and allow the rule of law to prevail,” de Guia noted.
“As such, we also remind the State and law enforcers that it is their sworn duty to guarantee that ‘no person shall be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the law’,” she added.
Cop dismissed
On Thursday, Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered the dismissal of Police S/Sgt. Gerry Genalope and that he be charged with murder.
Genalope shot dead Djastin Lopez during a police anti-drug operation in Manila last May 2017.
‘Surrendering’
Lopez’s relatives, including his mother Normita Lopez, however, asserted that the victim was shot while surrendering to authorities.
“The Commission on Human Rights welcomes the order of Ombudsman Samuel Martires to file murder charges against PO3 Gerry Geñalope in connection with an anti-drug operation on May 18, 2017 that killed drug suspect Djastin Lopez,” De Guia said.
CHR noted the finding of the Office of the Ombudsman that Lopez was not in a position to resist authorities.
‘Conflicting police report’
They also cited concerns on conflicting reports issued by the police.
“Citing the approved resolution, Lopez is a 23-year-old epileptic who sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen despite being in a position to not defend himself — shutting down claims that he fought back or ‘nanlaban’,” she explained.
“There are also questions on the legitimacy of the operation because of conflicting police reports,” she added.
Earlier, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) who represented the victim’s mother, said that they are also seeking accountability from the controversial operation’s team leader, Police Cpt. Jojo Salanguit.
READ: NUPL: Leader of 2017 drug raid that killed epileptic must be held liable
Bloody drug war
Oplan Tokhang is the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) nationwide program against illegal drugs.
The term, a combination of “toktok” or to knock and Visayan word “hangyo” or to plead, was coined by former PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa.
In the 2016 presidential elections, then-candidate and Rodrigo Duterte promised a bloody campaign against illegal drugs.
Since he assumed office, over 5,000 drug suspects have died during legitimate police operations.
Opposition groups though claim that the real number may be between 11,000 and 30,000 casualties. /gsg
READ: Gov’t: 72 killed in January 2019 drug ops; total hits 5,176