CHR defends ninja cops vs Duterte: Their lives are priceless

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in his speech during the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Convention at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on August 17, 2018, reiterates that his administration remains committed to preserve and defend the most cherished democratic values in the country. RENE LUMAWAG/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) slammed the President for setting a higher bounty on the heads of ‘ninja’ cops.

CHR agreed that these scalawags in the police force should be relieved from their uniformed duty, but said “However, like any human being, their lives are priceless, too and should not be equated to any amount, however low or exorbitant it may be.”

This statement by CHR Spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline de Guia came after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Friday, August 17, raised the P3 million bounty he set last year to P5 million.

“Their removal from service must not be by death which promotes vigilantism and perpetuates the cycle of violence, worse the breakdown of the rule of law but by due process which will afford them recognition of their rights,” she added.

Though she is in defense of these policemen’s human rights, de Guia clarified that this is not a “tolerance” of their behavior.

“Affording them due process and their Constitutional rights is by no means tolerance of their wrongdoings nor acquiescence thereto but rather adhering to time honored principles of respect for human rights and the rule of law,” she said.

During the Hugpong ng Pagbabago’s convention in Davao, Duterte said that policemen have many cases of abuse and he already told them to stop before.

“Sa (For) ninja cops, I will raise the amount of P5 million per ninja cop. Kung dalhin mo sa akin patay, P5 million. Kapag buhay, bigyan kita diez mil (P10,000) (If you bring one dead ninja cop to me, I will give you P5 million. If alive, I will give you P10,000),” Duterte said.

The President stressed that he is not joking as this is something he is announcing to the public. He added that if these policemen do not surrender, he will raise the bounty to a million per month.