Cascolan denies extrajudicial killings

September 7, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said there is no such thing as extrajudicial killings in the country.

“There is no such truth when it comes to EJK because EJKs as I said is state-sponsored. Will the President (Rodrigo Duterte) sponsor state killings? No. Will other people in the government do that? No, I don't believe so,” Police General Camilo Cascolan said in a press briefing.

Cascolan said the PNP are  working hard to reduce the supply of illegal drugs in the country.

“It's survival for our people. It's not only the criminals who are being killed here. There are a lot of PNP officers who already died… some are still young (cops) but they do their job because they are passionate enough to stop or rid this country of illegal drugs,” he said.

Cascolan urged those who have information about these cases to report to him so that they can investigate.

“I told you the first one to come to me. We will investigate, we will do our part… Let’s file a case if there are (EJKs),” he said.

According to the government’s latest data, 5,810 persons died during anti-drug operations and 251, 889 were arrested in 173, 348 anti-illegal drug operations.

Cascolan is the co-author of the “Oplan Double Barrel” under the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

The PNP also welcomed the signing of the Data Sharing Agreement on human rights violations between the Department of Justice and Commission on Human Rights.

“Well that's good. Actually DOJ, (Commission on) Human Rights are our partners in law enforcement. DOJ helps us with all the cases that we filed, documents etc. (Commission on) Human Rights helps us in the procedures on how we do the operations that's why any kind of idea with departments would be very good for us,” said Cascolan. Ella Dionisio/DMS