Summary Killings: Fatal Impact on Rule of Law

Screengrab from Inquirer.net.

CHEERS TO the Philippine Daily Inquirer for running an editorial that looked at the recent spate of summary killings and its impact on rule of law.

On June 7, the Inquirer ran the editorial “Killing season?” which noted the recent summary killings in the Western Visayas. The Inquirer (“5 dead as street executions start”) and the Manila Bulletin (“No to vigilante killings; the law and due process must prevail – PNP-6”) on June 5 reported that the victims had had previous run-ins with the law. Some had been detained for illegal drugs possession, as suspected drug dealers, and for robbery and theft. All had been shot. Some were bound, one had a note pinned to his body: “Tulisan ko (I am a thief), DU30.”

Duterte has pledged to end criminality in months and has warned drug lords to either put a stop to their illegal trade or be killed – a stance that does not come as a surprise given his record as Davao City mayor. The Inquirer piece noted Duterte’s “standard defense” when asked about his human-rights record as city mayor: “That the suspects killed by what has been called the Davao Death Squad were resisting arrest, and so had to be taken down.”

Although it’s tempting to attribute these killings to the influence of Duterte’s tough talk on crime, Duterte has yet to assume office. The killings, which have happened before, are happening in the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, who still has until the end of the month to complete his term and is therefore still accountable for these.

But the media are correct in looking at the impact on rule of law of Duterte’s most recent declarations on how to deal with crime, particularly when he encouraged citizens to arrest criminals and to kill them if they fought back. The Inquirer editorial points out that “deputizing citizens in this way does not strengthen the institutions of the law; it only fatally weakens them. The Bill of Rights is itself assassinated.”

The Philippine Star also had an editorial (“Delivering on a promise”, June 7) that reminded the president-elect that “there are laws to be followed and rights guaranteed by the Constitution that the nation’s chief executive is sworn to uphold.”