H U M A N R I G H T S “License to Kill” Philippine Police Killings in Duterte’s “War on Drugs” WATCH License to Kill Philippine Police Killings in Duterte’s “War on Drugs” Copyright © 2017 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-34488 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org MARCH 2017 ISBN: 978-1-6231-34488 “License to Kill” Philippine Police Killings in Duterte’s “War on Drugs” Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Key Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 24 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 25 I. Background ................................................................................................................... 26 Extrajudicial Killings as “Crime Control” ................................................................................. 26 Duterte the “Death Squad” Mayor .......................................................................................... 28 Duterte the “Death Squad” President? .................................................................................... 31 II. Police Responsibility for Extrajudicial Killings and “Vigilante Killings” ......................... 38 Edwin Ronda, June 8 ............................................................................................................... 41 Oliver Dela Cruz, July 1 ............................................................................................................ 43 Ogie Sumangue, July 3 ............................................................................................................ 45 Renato Badando, July 7 .......................................................................................................... 46 Edward Sentorias, July 8 ......................................................................................................... 47 Henry Francisco, July 20 ......................................................................................................... 49 Napoleon Miras Ai-Ai, July 24 .................................................................................................. 51 Aaron Joseph Paular, August 3 ................................................................................................ 52 Angelo Lafuente, Benji, Renato Forio Jr., August 18 .................................................................. 53 Noel Alberto, “Sarah,” September 10 ...................................................................................... 55 Bonifacio Antonio, Mario Rosit, September 13 ......................................................................... 56 Rogie Sebastian, September 19 .............................................................................................. 57 Aljon Mesa, Jimboy Bolasa, September 20, and Danilo Mesa, September 26 .......................... 60 Renaldo Agrigado, Raffy Sardido, Roldan Amora, September 27 ............................................. 62 Virgilio Mirano, September 27 ................................................................................................. 65 Jury Jana, October 4 ................................................................................................................ 67 Benjamin Visda, October 4 .................................................................................................... 68 Paquito Mejos, October 14 ...................................................................................................... 71 Jerome Bayutas, October 18 .................................................................................................... 72 Norberto Maderal, George Avanceña, October 19 .................................................................... 73 Heart de Chavez, January 10; “Joan,” January 13, 2017 ............................................................. 75 Unidentified person, January 14 .............................................................................................. 76 III. Prohibition of Extrajudicial Executions under International and Philippine Law ............ 79 International Law .................................................................................................................... 79 Philippine Law ........................................................................................................................ 81 IV. Criminal Responsibility of President Duterte and Senior Government Officials ............. 82 Legal Bases for Criminal Responsibility .................................................................................. 82 Responsibility of President Duterte ........................................................................................ 86 Responsibility of Duterte’s Senior Officials .............................................................................. 93 Promised Immunity to Subordinate Commanders .................................................................... 95 V. International Response to Duterte’s “War on Drugs”..................................................... 97 The United States ................................................................................................................... 97 The European Parliament and European Union ...................................................................... 102 Japan ................................................................................................................................... 103 China ................................................................................................................................... 104 Russia .................................................................................................................................. 106 The United Nations ............................................................................................................... 107 The International Criminal Court ............................................................................................ 111 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 112 To the President of the Philippines ........................................................................................ 112 To the Philippine Congress ................................................................................................... 112 To the Philippine National Police ...........................................................................................113 To the Department of Justice ..................................................................................................113 To the Commission on Human Rights .................................................................................... 114 To the Office of the Ombudsman ........................................................................................... 114 To the Department of Health .................................................................................................. 115 To Foreign Donors and Partners, including the United States, European Union, Japan, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank ................................................................................. 115 To the United States Government .......................................................................................... 116 To the United Nations ........................................................................................................... 116 VI. Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................... 118 Annex I: Excerpts from Police Reports Describing “Buy Bust” Police Killings ................... 119 Unidentified male, 35-40 (Injured) ........................................................................................ 119 Alias “Buko,” 25-30 (Deceased) ............................................................................................ 119 Eduardo Salanova, alias “Baloloy,” 35-40 (Deceased) ........................................................... 119 Ronnie Bucao, 50 (Deceased) ............................................................................................... 120 Paul Dumagas, 37 (Deceased) ............................................................................................... 120 Noel Aquilaña, alias “Nognog,” 34 (Deceased) ...................................................................... 120 Unidentified male, 30-35 (Deceased) ...................................................................................