The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has voiced its support for the ongoing House investigations into the deaths resulting from police operations during the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc confirmed this during a House committee meeting discussing the CHR’s proposed P1 billion budget for 2025.
“The Commission supports the investigation by the Quad Com [quadruple House Committees]. In fact, we are being invited as one of the resource persons,” Palpal-latoc said. He mentioned that while the CHR was invited to a hearing in Bacolor, Pampanga, their attendance was later deemed unnecessary for that specific session.
When asked by Muntinlupa Representative Jaime Fresnedi if the CHR felt slighted by the Quad Com’s probe, Palpal-latoc clarified that the CHR’s work is not impacted by Congress’s investigation. He highlighted that while the CHR investigates human rights violations, Congress conducts inquiries in aid of legislation, and there is no overlap or conflict between their functions.
Palpal-latoc also noted that the CHR is conducting its own independent investigation into extrajudicial killings (EJKs) related to the drug war and has recently reconstituted its EJK task force to continue probing these cases.
Discussion on Compensation for Victims
During the budget deliberations, representatives Jaime Fresnedi and Raoul Manuel inquired if the CHR supports compensating victims of the drug war deaths. Palpal-latoc responded that while the CHR has not yet established a position on compensating these victims specifically, the commission generally supports measures to compensate any victim of human rights violations. He emphasized that all forms of grave human rights violations, not just extrajudicial killings, should be considered for compensation.
“Victims of grave human rights violations, especially grave violations, should be compensated by the state, and we will provide recommendations,” Palpal-latoc stated.
International Investigations and Controversy
Former President Duterte and key officials from his administration are already under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity related to the systematic killings during the drug war. While police records indicate approximately 6,000 deaths, human rights groups argue that the actual number, including vigilante killings, could be as high as 30,000. Duterte has maintained that the Philippines is no longer under ICC jurisdiction following its withdrawal from the Rome Statute in March 2019.