Malacañang denied an alleged report that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Philippine National Police not to release to the Commission on Human Rights the information of its investigation on the attacks against rights defenders and activists.
“There is no truth to the alleged report that Duterte instructed the PNP not to release or share their information to the CHR regarding the killing of 89 activists and rights defenders,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
The PNP itself denied the claim, adding in a statement “The Philippine National Police categorically denies that President Rodrigo Duterte issued any order prohibiting the release of information or data with regard to the ongoing investigation on the recent attacks against rights defenders and activists.”
Roque made the statement in response to CHR Commissioner Leah Tanodra-Armamento allegations that they could not file any case over the killings of rights defenders and activists because the PNP was refusing to give them data allegedly due to the President’s instructions.
The Palace official said the President wanted justice for the victims and wanted to expose those behind the attacks.
“As an officer of the court, being a lawyer, the President adheres to the rule of law and he wants the wheels of justice to grind, for the sake of the victims of abuse and violence and their families,” he said.
“The Administration is equally interested to unmask those behind these brazen killings, which are being blamed to state agents, and we will leave no stone unturned to put these people behind bars,” he added.
The CHR is seeking justice for human rights activist Zara Alvarez after she was shot in the back by unidentified gunmen on Sta. Maria St. in Eroreco, Barangay Mandalagan in Bacolod City on August 17.
Also, the commission has been investigating the killings of about 89 activists and rights defenders from 2017 to 2019.
