The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes the formal criminal charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) National Prosecution Service against four Philippine National Police (PNP) officer and three Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents in connection to the ‘misencounter’ along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City last February 4, 2020.

The indictment emerged from the complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to conduct a probe into the incident. Prosecutors determined that both agencies were conducting a separate buy-bust operations then when the clash happened. After a thorough evaluation, they also found sufficient evidence to file charges against the seven state agents.

CHR believes that this indictment is a step forward in counteracting similar happenstance from taking place again and further proof that law enforcement agencies are inclined to prevent human rights violations.

Thus, we also recognize PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar and PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva for signing a unified guideline which aims to prevent a repeat of the misencounter between law enforcement agents on their conduct of anti-drug operations.

While the Commission is hopeful that the prosecution charges will subsequently be a means for the discipline of law enforcers, CHR also remains vigilant of the legal proceedings to help guarantee the right to a fair trial of the involved police officers and agents.

As fellow duty bearers, we hope for the continued efforts and reforms of state agents to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights.

Our leaders may change, but our obligations under the Constitution remains the same: To serve and protect the Filipino people.