Family and relatives join the inurnment rites of victims of extrajudicial killings linked to the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the Dambana ng Paghilom in La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Monday that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has yet to cooperate with regards to investigations on killings from the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs. 

During the final House Quad Committee hearing, CHR Chairperson Richard Palpal-latoc shared investigation is still ongoing for most of the 4,000 cases.  

"The Commission has investigated less than 4,000 cases of deaths related to the drug war. That is composed of deaths related to police operations, also deaths with unidentified assailants. From 2016 to 2022," Palpal-latoc said. 

"We are investigating these cases to determine human rights violations. Sa ngayon po, majority of these cases ay hindi pa rin tapos ang investigation because of the lack of cooperation from the Philippine National Police to share information on the cases," the he explained. 

Palpal-latoc explained these are motu propio investigations conducted by the Commission.

PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management Chief PBGen. Matthew Bacay responded to the CHR's remark.

"The DIDM through the directive of our chief PNP, directed all units involved where the Commission on Human Rights is requesting for case folders of all these cases involving EJK to cooperate, to provide. We have already given orders on this," Bacay said. 

"To the Commission on Human Rights, please reach out to our units because there are about more than 6,000 or 7,000 cases of this spread throughout the country. The directive is already there. Should any of our units refuse, please tell us," he added. 

READ: Torre vows zero tolerance for extrajudicial killings: ‘CHR is our boss’

House Committee on Human Rights Chairperson Rep. Bienvenido Abante noted the challenges the CHR faces, the reason they filed a bill amending the charter of the Commission. 

"Ang pangit naman nun, we are now with the new administration. General Bacay, baka naman may tinatago kayo diyan. We do not want you to be accused, the new Philippine National Police, na meron kayong tinatago," he asked. 

"Malinaw po ang kautusan ng bagong Chief PNP on this regard. The PNP should be transparent in its investigation, especially if it involves these types of cases where there are deaths resulting from police operations," Bacay responded.

The CHR confirmed it has been denied access to evidence by law enforcement agencies. 

"In relation to investigation on EJK cases, mister chair, yes the Commission has experienced denial on different reasons by the Philippine National Police access to records, police reports and other pieces of evidence," Palpac-latoc said. 

The CHR Chairperson said he has spoken to PNP Chief PGen. Nicolas Torre earlier on the matter. 

"Nagkaroon po kami ng pagkakataon na mag-usap at nagbigay po siya ng commitment na makikipagtulungan ang Philippine National Police under his leadership sa mga imbestigasyon na ginagawa ng komisyon. Hopefully we can also sign the memorandum of agreement between the CHR and PNP," Palpal-latoc said. 

The CHR likewise said it has not forwarded cases to the Department of Justice (DOJ) because it has not yet completed any investigation. 

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said they were referred cases for reinvestigation from the DOJ that were filed by the PNP. 

READ: Ex-President Duterte faces disbarment complaint from rights advocates, EJK victims' kin

"We have been deprived of the opportunity to re-examine the scenes of the crime. Walang binigay na report ang SOCO. Hindi namin makuha ano yung caliber na ginamit, wala yung baril, walang crime scene investigation," NBI Spokesperson Ferdinand Lavin said. 

"The relatives of the victims were very uncooperative. It appeared that there was a climate of fear at that time. Sobrang takot nila, kung dumulog sila sa NBI para maimbestigahan ito, baka mabalikan sila. O kaya nawalan sila ng pag-asa," he added. 

Lavin said when they returned to the crime scene, most of the witnesses or victims were either gone or possibly talked out of pushing through with the case. 

NBI said the DOJ referred 32 cases, 15 of which were filed while 2 cases were provisionally closed due to uncooperative witnesses or complainant. 

"We are really having a difficult time trying to resolve the cases referred to us by the DOJ. But for those cases nagkaroon kami ng opportunity, nai-file na namin sa DOJ. Naibalik namin sa DOJ. Very few of the cases referred to the NBI, we were able to secure a conviction," he added.

A bill seeking to strengthen the charter of the CHR has been passed on second reading in the House of Representatives, but there is no counterpart in the Senate. 

"Pakiusap ko sa Philippine National Police, kampihan niyo na. You agree na with the ano. Pagka-tayo ulit nagkaroon ng hearing, sabihin niyo na kinampihan niyo na," Abante said.

The lawmaker is hopeful a similar measure will be re-filed in the 20th Congress.