1) His opening line is a blanket condemnation to, "Stop using that fake news of ‘7,000 summarily executed’" yet that line is not used in the rappler data article, nor does he provide a citation where that quote is used by any of the international or local organizations have criticized the anti-drug campaign. In fact, rappler's data descriptions are quite precise in differentiating the types of death, as you can see,(http://www.rappler.com/…/145814-numbers-statistics-philippi…) that describe "legitimate police operations and vigilante-style or unexplained killings". It is precisely the PNP failure to respond to Rapplers freedom of information request that is causing this problem (See point 6).
2) He denounces the EU resolution condemning the killings as having, "interfered with our justice system" as if criticism from an international body creates any actual interference in the day operations of the Philippine justice system. In fact, it is the killings that are interfering and overloading not only the justice system, but the various mechanisms of accountability such as: PNP internal affairs division and human rights office, Commission on Human Rights, regular courts, jails and prisons, that are now overwhelmed with cases of accused drug involved people and at least a 50% increase in murders...
3) The murder rate has increased by 50% during the Duterte administration (http://news.abs-cbn.com/…/pnp-crime-rate-down-but-murder-ra…), which does not even include "lawful" "nanlaban" killings by police, many of which have been documented by both local media and international human rights groups as actually being summary executions.
4) Actually, data is always hard to understand and read when you are dealing with controversial issues. Even Tiglao acknowledges that the minimal number, "Some 2,107 people killed in the anti-drug war in seven and a half months of course is still deplorable," but fails to point out that PNP are actually also involved in many of the killings perpetrated by unknown asssailants, such as the killing of a crime-watch volunteer in Mindoro (http://news.abs-cbn.com/…/wig-wearing-riding-in-tandem-kill…). Thus the number of police-involved killings is HIGHER since some of the anonymous vigilante killings actually involved the police, and yet despite this "deplorable" situation (in his words), he fails to point out, this further perpetuates a climate of impunity and insecurity.
5) Thus, it often becomes quite difficult and in some cases impossible to determine whether killings are associated with drugs or some other reason, which is precisely what he is accusing rappler and others of failing to differentiate. Yet those of us concerned are simply highlighting the result of the drug campaign that Tiglao aready decried as deplorable.
6) As mentioned, the PNP have failed to respond to rappler's freedom of information request, which would help clarify the point underlying his article, three months since it submitted it's request (http://www.rappler.com/…/163663-review-duterte-administrati…). Thus, this actually raises the specter that the PNP is hiding and misreporting data, which makes it hard to believe the already deplorable data that it has release. Thus, it is the PNP that has tarnished its own reputation and is justifiably implicated in serious human rights violations.
7) Tiglao conveniently forgets to mention the killing of the Korean Jee Ick Joo in camp Crame itself, implicating the PNP at its highest levels, in summary executions. Nor does he mention that the re-organization of the anti-drug unit produced no actual accountability for its unlawful behavior which has lead to a massive loss in confidence in the police. The consequence is that the new anti-drug unit is struggling to recruit new members. And so we should ask, whatever happened to command responsibility when the unlawful killers are operating out of the national police headquarters?
Perhaps Mr. Tiglao should use some of his investigative skills and great concern for the truth to spend more time trying to ferret out why the police have engaged in a policy that he rightly describes as deplorable. Nor should he continue to paint those concerned about this situation, "Robredo and other yellow hacks," as if we are part of some vast liberal party conspiracy. I know of many people from across the political spectrum, including pro-Duterte supporters who are disgusted, afraid, and ashamed of what is happening.
Rather, we acknowledge that it truly is difficult to know the reality of what is happening, especially the truth of the numbers that are being spun by government and various media sources. Those of us truly pro-Filipino activists would welcome another genuine advocate in the struggle for the dignity and human rights of all Filipinos rather than arguing with someone who seems more interested in defending the shameful policy of the current administration, an administration that has yet to be held accountable for its misdeeds.
reference articles:
http://www.rappler.com/…/163663-review-duterte-administrati…
http://www.manilatimes.net/rappler-misled-eu-human-right…/…/
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