NEW York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the Marcos administration to initiate extensive reforms in Philippine law enforcement following recent congressional hearings on police corruption and abuses during the “war on drugs.”
Witnesses testified before multiple committees in the House of Representatives, revealing extrajudicial killings committed by police during anti-drug operations since 2016. Senior officials with close ties to then-President Rodrigo Duterte were implicated.
Royina Garma, former Cebu police chief, testified on October 5 that Duterte had asked her to help organize a national anti-drug campaign modeled after his time as mayor of Davao City.
Garma claimed officers received payments of up to 1 million pesos for killing drug suspects.
On October 11, Kerwin Espinosa, a self-confessed drug lord, alleged that then-police chief and now Senator Rogelio ‘Bato’ dela Rosa threatened him to implicate former Senator Leila de Lima in drug-related crimes.
De Lima, charged and imprisoned in 2016, was exonerated in June 2024. Dela Rosa has denied the allegations.
The hearings underscored the use of government resources to enforce Duterte’s “war on drugs” and silence critics.
Human Rights Watch said the campaign resulted in thousands of deaths with little accountability. Police killings of suspected drug offenders have continued under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Human Rights Watch urged newly appointed Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla to rescind police orders related to the drug war, including ‘Oplan Double Barrel,’ and strengthen oversight mechanisms.
The Justice Department was called to initiate investigations based on the congressional testimony.
“President Marcos should implement meaningful reforms and cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s investigation into these killings,” said Bryony Lau, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Human Rights Watch also encouraged foreign governments and donors to press the Philippine government for accountability and reform.
