Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday expressed hope that the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation would be able to sign the draft memorandum of agreement for a joint investigation on drug war deaths before PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar retires.
The DOJ on October 17 confirmed that it has sent the draft MOA to the National Bureau of Investigation and PNP.
Guevarra said both agencies would be given a “reasonable period” to beef up the MOA and include operational matters they deem necessary.
“We’re expecting their comments this week… then we can finalize. We hope that the NBI and the PNP would be able to sign their MOA before PNP chief Eleazar’s retirement,” Guevarra said in a message to reporters.
Eleazar is set to retire on November 13.
When asked if the next PNP chief may change his stance on the review of the drug war deaths, Guevarra said he expected the next PNP chief, whoever he may be, to strictly comply with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive.
“The President has a standing order to the DOJ and the PNP to review the conduct of the drug war and to impose sanctions upon those who went beyond the bounds of the law,” Guevarra said.
The DOJ recently published its review of 52 drug war cases.
Justice Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said this was just part of the first batch and more cases would be investigated in the coming months as the Philippine National Police vowed to submit more records and files. — DVM, GMA News
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