Manila: The leaders of the House Quad Committee in the 19th Congress have refiled a bill aimed at classifying extrajudicial killing (EJK) as a heinous crime, seeking justice for victims of former president Rodrigo Duterte's controversial drug war. House Bill No. 1629 has been jointly authored by several representatives including David 'Jay-jay' Suarez, Bienvenido Abante Jr., Romeo Acop, Zia Alonto Adiong, Paolo Ortega V, Ernesto Dionisio Jr., Rodge Gutierrez, Lordan Suan, Jay Khonghun, Gerville 'Jinky Bitrics' Luistro, and Jonathan Keith Flores.
According to Philippines News Agency, the bill was first introduced during the 19th Congress after the Quad Committee's investigation into unlawful killings conducted outside the judicial system. The proposed measure defines EJK as 'the taking of life without the sanction of lawful judicial process' and prescribes life imprisonment for public officials, state agents, or any individual acting under state authority who commits or orders such killings.
The bill is a response to widespread killings associated with Duterte's anti-illegal drug campaign. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has reported 846 investigated deaths between 2016 and 2022, with 577 attributed to law enforcement agents and 269 linked to unknown assailants and other actors.
Under the proposed Anti-Extrajudicial Killing Act, senior military or police officials instructing subordinates to carry out EJKs will be held equally accountable. It also allows for the preventive suspension of public officials presumed administratively negligent if EJK cases rise in their jurisdiction despite receiving peace and order or intelligence funds.
The bill proposes the creation of the Extrajudicial Killings Claims Board under the CHR to process and authorize both monetary and non-monetary reparations for the victims' families. Compensation may range from PHP250,000 to PHP500,000, based on the circumstances of each case. Additionally, the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be required to offer psychosocial and educational support.
The explanatory note of the bill highlights the serious challenge EJKs pose to democratic institutions and the erosion of public trust in the justice system. By codifying EJK as a distinct and punishable offense, the authors aim to provide a strong legal basis for addressing such violations through proper investigative and judicial processes.
The bill further underscores the Philippines' commitment to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), obligating state parties to protect the right to life and prevent arbitrary killings.
