The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) anticipates the reopening of several unresolved cases related to the brutal drug war of the previous administration, newly-appointed Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday.
In a press briefing held after his first command conference with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Remulla broached this possibility in light of the testimonies made by retired police colonel Royina Garma and lieutenant colonel Santie Mendoza.
“I think with these testimonies, some of the cold cases will be opened. But, again, let us wait until the final hearings and final recommendations of the Quad Comm are done and then subsequent actions will be taken,” Remulla told reporters.
PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil reiterated they are already reaching out with his predecessors who served under the leadership of former President Rodrigo Duterte to shed light on this controversy, considering the serious allegations made against ranking members of the police force.
“We asked the former chiefs to give their statements because Colonel Garma mentioned that the former chiefs were being informed regarding the war on drugs,” Marbil said. “We have to take their statements… so we know where to start in our investigation,” he added.
Marbil echoed Remulla’s position to wait for the members of the House Quad Committee to submit their final report before making any action. The DILG chief also emphasized that the previous PNP leaderships must not be judged based on recent testimonies made at the congressional inquiry.
“We have to understand that they (former PNP chiefs) are innocent until proven guilty… They have to go through the process. However, having said that they are innocent until proven guilty, there are no sacred cows in this institution and in this investigation,” Remulla said.
“Anyone who is guilty, anyone who is found guilty, anyone will be treated like any other person… They will be accorded no special treatment. They will be accorded no special privileges. Everyone will face the full consequence of the law and the full powers of the PNP and the institution of DILG.”
Remulla assured the public that there would be no extrajudicial killings in the Marcos administration’s anti-drugs operations. He also reiterated that all Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will be closed by the end of the year.
“We aim to uplift the morale and uplift the professionalism of this institution and we aim to create better community relations, especially between the local chief executives and the PNP,” the DILG chief said of his first official meeting with the police force.
