PNP Chief Welcomes Domestic Investigations on Duterte’s Drug War
MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III expressed openness to domestic investigations regarding the role of law enforcement officers during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial drug war. This development came after a meeting with Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila De Lima at Camp Crame on July 25, 2025.
De Lima emphasized that the key goal of these inquiries is to provide closure for victims affected by the brutal anti-narcotics campaign. “There’s got to be a closure, but it has to start with truth-telling,” she said. She also stressed that the PNP itself must be transparent and willing to face investigations.
Gen. Torre reportedly responded positively to the proposal, showing willingness to cooperate with domestic mechanisms of accountability. De Lima highlighted their shared understanding that truth and justice must begin at home, especially for the lower-level perpetrators such as members of death squads and police teams involved in extrajudicial killings.
Discussing ICC and Accountability Measures
During their conversation, De Lima and Torre briefly touched upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) case filed against Duterte. De Lima noted that the ICC cannot realistically investigate every single extrajudicial killing. Instead, she pointed out, domestic processes should handle lower-level offenders to ensure justice is served comprehensively.
The meeting also included National Police Commission (Napolcom) Vice Chairperson Rafael Calinisan and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Richard Palpal-Latoc, who participated in discussions on transitional justice and accountability.
Oplan Tokhang’s Flaws Acknowledged
Gen. Torre admitted that Oplan Tokhang, the police’s flagship operation in the drug war, was flawed due to insufficient evidence and the tragic loss of lives. He acknowledged the operation’s shortcomings during a PNP Press Corps event earlier that week.
De Lima, a long-standing critic of the drug war, agreed wholeheartedly. She emphasized, “Before you face a suspected offender, you have to have evidence.” She further explained that the original Tokhang approach allowed police to visit houses without proper cause, often resulting in the formation of death squads. “That’s not right because it did not go through the right process,” she added.
Compensation and Legislative Plans
Aside from accountability, De Lima and Gen. Torre discussed compensation for victims of the drug war. Republic Act 7309 currently provides up to ₱10,000 for victims of unjust imprisonment, detention, or violent crimes through the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice.
De Lima plans to propose a bill to increase this compensation as part of broader transitional justice efforts. Moreover, she aims to file legislation on prison reform and a unified penitentiary system during the 20th Congress to address systemic issues in the justice system.
Background and Ongoing Developments
Last October, retired police Colonel Royina Garma testified before a House committee that Duterte allegedly implemented a system rewarding officers for every drug suspect killed. Duterte is currently detained at the ICC in The Hague, facing allegations of crimes against humanity related to his administration’s drug war, which reportedly claimed between 12,000 and 30,000 lives.
Notably, Gen. Torre, as former director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, led the police team that executed the arrest warrant against Duterte in March.
For more news and updates on Duterte’s drug war, visit Filipinokami.com.
