The Philippines: Duterte: Not all drug war records can be opened

• The government cannot release all records of the controversial war on drugs because of “national security” issues, President Duterte said on 1 Jun 21 as he urged human rights groups to be careful in assessing deaths linked to the campaign.
• Duterte said drug syndicates could have also orchestrated the killings.
• He said rights advocates could check police records on joint law enforcement operations from a “healthy distance,” but some details like the sources of information should remain confidential.
• It’s a national security issue,” the President said during a meeting of the government’s pandemic task force on 31 May 21.
• Duterte said government forces inform him about “big personalities” but their location and the manner by which they would be arrested are “none of my business really as President.”
• He issued the statement after the Philippine National Police (PNP) allowed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to access 61 anti-drug campaign cases, a move that drew praise from various sectors, including the Commission on Human Rights.
• Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the President was not referring to the information-sharing between the two agencies.
• Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the DOJ would keep in mind Duterte’s concern on national security when reviewing cases related to the anti-drug war.
• As for the 61 cases, Guevarra said these are criminal matters, more of a criminal nature than a national security concern.
• He gave assurance that when the DOJ and PNP examine the 61 cases, they would “play it by ear.”

External Link : https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/06/02/2102487/duterte-not-all-drug-war-records-can-be-opened