The Commission on Human Rights is concerned with the government’s remark emboldening Police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido that he is “free to kill everybody” in carrying out his anti-drugs operations in Bacolod City.

Such words inciting arbitrary act of violence by a State agent reinforce and tolerate impunity. This pronouncement should never be made to normalise violence in the country and to blatantly attack the right to life of individuals. We cannot emphasise further that law enforcement agents, especially the police, should never resort to any extralegal process in its drive against illegal drugs in the country. At all times, it must adhere to their standard operating procedures and respectful of human rights principles in fulfilling their sworn duty to serve and protect.

The Commission reminds the administration to be mindful of its statement and should never encourage the police to transgress the law as there are mechanisms in place to hold them accountable for their actions. Likewise, we echo the position of the Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año that authorities should follow the rule of law in all of its operations. The Commission hopes that these words would not translate into any policy directive that is violative of the government’s obligation to uphold and safeguard the life and dignity of everyone. ###