Akbayan to Duterte: 8,000 killings proof of policy to kill

FILE: President Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañan Palace/Presidential Photo)

Akbayan Partylist condemns President Rodrigo Duterte’s denial of his policy to kill under the War on Drugs.

Duterte, in a press conference on September 5, attacked Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros after her call-out against PNP’s policy to kill under his War on Drugs. Duterte said: “Does the killing of two people make a policy? Ang bobo naman niyan”.

“President Duterte, the killings have reached 8,000 under your regime. This proves your policy to kill is real,” Akbayan President Machris Cabreros said.

“President Duterte’s orders to kill are undeniable as he has made this public in many occasions even in front of the Chief PNP. The attempt of denying is futile. He’s basically lying through his teeth,” Akbayan President Machris Cabreros said.
Cabreros said that Duterte’s policy to kill has already corrupted the police force, using his War on Drugs to kill, threaten or extort people.

“President Duterte even admitted this when he called the police force ‘corrupt to the core’ after the death of foreigner Jee Ick Joo under Bato’s watch. The list of victims pile up and it all points to Duterte’s policy to kill.”

Cabreros said that even before the Senate can close the probe of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos’ slay, PNP has taken another victim with UP freshman Carl Angelo Arnaiz who was reportedly tortured and accused of possessing illegal drugs on August 18.

“PNP’s policy to kill is now targeting the young and the poor,” Cabreros added. “Instead of fighting criminals, it seems that our police have joined their ranks and are out murdering our children.”
Akbayan dares President Duterte to heed the call of human rights groups to cease all statements encouraging the policy to kill in police operations. Oplan Double Barrel and all operations using excessive force should be suspended until human rights abuses are answered to. PNP should open up for independent investigations on reports of paid killings.