Senator Leila De Lima filed a bill Tuesday which defines extrajudicial killing (EJK) and provides for its penalty amid the spate of killings of drug suspects.
Senate Bill 1197 or the "Anti-Extrajudicial Killing Act of 2016" defines extrajudicial killing as “the unlawful, and deliberate killing of targeted individuals or groups thereof, carried out by agents of the State and under its order or acquiescence in lieu of arrest, investigation and prosecution.”
It seeks to strengthen the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in investigating extrajudicial killings.
Senator De Lima wants police to use a megaphone to warn crime suspects before they could make an arrest. The police are absolutely prohibited from firing warning shots.
"Extrajudicial killing includes summary killing perpetrated by private individuals for purposes of carrying out on their own or in the context of vigilantism, a campaign or policy of the State," the Senate bill read.
The measure also seeks to promote human rights, ensure public awareness on the sanctity of life and respect for rule of law.
Under the proposed measure, the CHR will have the authority to investigate cases of extrajudicial killings. The agency will also have the power to conduct inquiries on such matters.
The National Bureau of Investigation, meanwhile, will be mandated to make relevant services available to the CHR and/or the PNP (Philippine National Police) in their inquiries or investigation of EJK cases.
Source: Philstar
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