This shot by Raffy Lerma, published by the Inquirer on July 24, 2016, shows a pedicab driver in the arms of his anguished partner after being killed by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Pasay City. The assailants also left a sign at the scene calling their victim a “pusher.” —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Duterte administration’s drug war policies remain fully in effect and can still be weaponized unless the Supreme Court explicitly repeals them.
In a newly filed Manifestation and Urgent Motion for Resolution, the Center for International Law (CenterLaw) — representing Sr. Ma. Juanita R. Daño and other petitioners — stated that key drug war circulars issued by the PNP and DILG remain unmodified, active, and unrevoked.
PNP CMC No. 16-2016 known as the Project “Double Barrel” was issued by former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. Through this, the police did a house-to-house visitation strategy, knocking and pleading with suspected drug users and pushers to surrender and sign voluntary undertakings.
On the other hand, CMC No. 01-2017 is the amendment of Project Double Barrel. This amendment re-focused police efforts towards clearing barangays and strengthening community-based rehabilitation programs. Meanwhile, DILG Memorandum Circular 2-17-112 has placed community-level reporting mechanisms where citizens can anonymously submit names of suspected drug personalities.
