Gov't starts probe into police-led EJKs with Dela Rosa as 'tip of the spear'

MANILA, Philippines — The government is opening a broader accountability investigation into extrajudicial killings, beginning with Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa because he was the "tip of the spear" in the drug war, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Sunday, May 10.

At a press conference at the Philippine National Police headquarters, Remulla said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will issue a subpoena on Monday requiring Dela Rosa to appear personally before investigators, but stressed that the order is not an arrest warrant.

"I repeat, this is not an arrest warrant but a subpoena for the senator and former chief of the PNP," Remulla said at at Camp Crame.

But the DILG chief framed the subpoena as the start of a wider domestic investigation into alleged drug war killings, not merely a response to weekend speculation over a possible International Criminal Court warrant against the absentee senator.

"There will be other investigations to follow and other subpoenas to follow regarding this," Remulla said. "We have to put a stop to all of this chatter. We have to make it clear that EJK is no longer a policy of the PNP. We have to make it clear that all officers involve must be held accountable and just to be clear he was the tip of the spear in the EJK drive so we will start with him and investigate down further."

More subpoenas expected

Remulla said Dela Rosa would be the first to be summoned because he had "never been personally investigated" over the allegations.

Asked who else would be investigated, Remulla said authorities would announce that "down the road."

"He will be the first one but the ones listed in the previous complaints andami na complaints dito eh, over a hundred cases, we will issue succeeding subpoenas in the coming days," he said.

The investigation, Remulla said, would cover more than 100 alleged EJK cases during Dela Rosa's time as Davao City police director and regional police director.

"It's all related to the 100 plus of EJKs that occurred during his term as city director and regional director of Davao," Remulla said.

Dela Rosa later became the first Philippine National Police chief of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose anti-drug campaign is the subject of a crimes against humanity case before the ICC. The ICC prosecutor has named Dela Rosa among alleged co-perpetrators in the drug war killings, along with other former and incumbent officials.

Review of police operations

Remulla also confirmed that the investigation could lead to a review of past police operations, including those previously flagged by internal accountability mechanisms.

Asked whether the DILG order meant an "all-out review" of police operations, including those flagged by the Internal Affairs Service, Remulla answered: "Yes."

Earlier accountability efforts had often centered on selected cases already reviewed by police or justice officials.

Asked if all operations would be covered, he again said: "Yes. We cannot move forward as a country until there is a reconciliation of the truth of what happened." — with reports from Ian Laqui