DOJ: Conviction of 4 cops in Caloocan drug war killing shows justice system works
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DOJ: Conviction of 4 cops in Caloocan drug war killing shows justice system works
Mary Ann Domingo, widow and mother of Luis and Gabriel Domingo, reacts after hearing Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 121 convicted 4 cops tagged in the deaths of her loved ones of homicide. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News
Mary Ann Domingo, widow and mother of Luis and Gabriel Domingo, reacts after hearing Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 121 convicted 4 cops tagged in the deaths of her loved ones of homicide. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA (UPDATED) — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday hailed the conviction of police officers for the killing of father and son Luis and Gabriel Bonifacio in an anti-drug operation in 2016, saying this shows the Philippine criminal justice system works.
MANILA (UPDATED) — Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday hailed the conviction of police officers for the killing of father and son Luis and Gabriel Bonifacio in an anti-drug operation in 2016, saying this shows the Philippine criminal justice system works.
The Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 121 found Police Master Sgt. Virgilio Servantes and Police Corporals Arnel De Guzman, Johnston Alacre, and Argemio Saguros, Jr. guilty of homicide, on Tuesday.
The Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 121 found Police Master Sgt. Virgilio Servantes and Police Corporals Arnel De Guzman, Johnston Alacre, and Argemio Saguros, Jr. guilty of homicide, on Tuesday.
"This conviction is a milestone in our criminal justice system, a testament [to] the government’s unwavering efforts to safeguarding human rights in the pursuit of justice and a clear proof of a functioning justice system," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
"This conviction is a milestone in our criminal justice system, a testament [to] the government’s unwavering efforts to safeguarding human rights in the pursuit of justice and a clear proof of a functioning justice system," Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
In a separate statement, former Duterte legal counsel Salvador Panelo claimed that the conviction eight years after the killings "is an eloquent proof that the judicial system in the country not only is functioning but robust as well."
In a separate statement, former Duterte legal counsel Salvador Panelo claimed that the conviction eight years after the killings "is an eloquent proof that the judicial system in the country not only is functioning but robust as well."
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He claimed that this shows there is no need for the International Criminal Court to get involved in killings attributed to the Duterte administration's violent anti-drug campaign.
He claimed that this shows there is no need for the International Criminal Court to get involved in killings attributed to the Duterte administration's violent anti-drug campaign.
'A REMINDER TO ABUSIVE POLICE OFFICERS'
Remulla also commended the Department of Justice prosecutors for securing the conviction of the four cops.
Remulla also commended the Department of Justice prosecutors for securing the conviction of the four cops.
"This serves as a reminder to abusive police officers that no one is above the law, justice will eventually catch up with them," he said of the conviction.
"This serves as a reminder to abusive police officers that no one is above the law, justice will eventually catch up with them," he said of the conviction.
But National Union of People's Lawyers president Ephraim Cortez said credit for the court victory should not go to government.
But National Union of People's Lawyers president Ephraim Cortez said credit for the court victory should not go to government.
"The NUPL-[National Capital Region] Legal Team, by themselves, without any help from the police and the prosecutor, had to procure the evidence, presented witnesses, and even exhumed the body of the victim for a re-autopsy. These evidence established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable," he said on Facebook.
"The NUPL-[National Capital Region] Legal Team, by themselves, without any help from the police and the prosecutor, had to procure the evidence, presented witnesses, and even exhumed the body of the victim for a re-autopsy. These evidence established the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable," he said on Facebook.
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Lawyer Kristina Conti, secretary general of NUPL-NCR, said the government prosecutor "even testified for the accused" in the case.
Lawyer Kristina Conti, secretary general of NUPL-NCR, said the government prosecutor "even testified for the accused" in the case.
"So please give credit where it is due — to the private prosecutors with the NUPL-NCR, the paralegals of Rise Up for Live and for Rights, and other volunteers," she said on the X social media platform.
"So please give credit where it is due — to the private prosecutors with the NUPL-NCR, the paralegals of Rise Up for Live and for Rights, and other volunteers," she said on the X social media platform.
Conti, in a separate post on Facebook, said that the conviction “was more of an exception rather than the rule.”
Conti, in a separate post on Facebook, said that the conviction “was more of an exception rather than the rule.”
She said private prosecutors had tried to upgrade the case to murder from homicide and implead more cops involved in the bloody operation but that the Supreme Court denied their motion for that.
She said private prosecutors had tried to upgrade the case to murder from homicide and implead more cops involved in the bloody operation but that the Supreme Court denied their motion for that.
'[N]o, you cannot make me say that the justice system is working," she said.
'[N]o, you cannot make me say that the justice system is working," she said.
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Human rights group Karapatan has welcomed the conviction but also lamented that the police officers were found guilty only of homicide.
Human rights group Karapatan has welcomed the conviction but also lamented that the police officers were found guilty only of homicide.
"We continue to stand in solidarity with all victims of human rights violations, including those who suffered under Duterte and those who continue to suffer under the Marcos Jr. administration, in our collective demand for justice and accountability," said Karapatan Secretary-General Tinay Palabay.
"We continue to stand in solidarity with all victims of human rights violations, including those who suffered under Duterte and those who continue to suffer under the Marcos Jr. administration, in our collective demand for justice and accountability," said Karapatan Secretary-General Tinay Palabay.
Thousands of drug suspects were killed by police and unknown gunmen in a campaign that became the centerpiece of Duterte's 2016-2022 rule, a crackdown that critics described as state-sponsored extrajudicial killings and is now a subject of an investigation by the International Criminal Court.
Thousands of drug suspects were killed by police and unknown gunmen in a campaign that became the centerpiece of Duterte's 2016-2022 rule, a crackdown that critics described as state-sponsored extrajudicial killings and is now a subject of an investigation by the International Criminal Court.
Police said the crackdown left more than 6,000 people dead, but rights groups estimate tens of thousands of mostly poor men have been killed by officers and vigilantes, even without proof they were linked to drugs.
Police said the crackdown left more than 6,000 people dead, but rights groups estimate tens of thousands of mostly poor men have been killed by officers and vigilantes, even without proof they were linked to drugs.
Duterte had openly ordered police to shoot dead suspects during anti-drug operations if officers believed their lives were in danger.
While the crackdown has been widely condemned and sparked an international investigation, only five other policemen have been convicted for killing drug suspects. —with a report from Pam Castro, Agence France-Presse
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