Controversial police colonel Jovie Espenido revealed to the Quad Committee that the quota and reward system during the Duterte administration’s drug war led to police abuses, allegedly resulting in human rights violations against thousands of victims.
Espenido made this statement in response to a query from Ako Bicol Representative Raul Angelo “Jil” Bongalon.
Espenido expressed regret over the loss of many innocent civilians’ lives, attributing these deaths to police abuse of power.
He emphasized that those surrounding former President Rodrigo Duterte were driven by greed for money and power.
Espenido further lamented that the victims suffered only so police could receive rewards.
He believes that human rights were violated during the Duterte administration’s drug campaign, which began in 2016. The campaign aimed to eradicate illegal drugs in the country, but it was heavily criticized for its brutal methods.
According to official government data, over 6,000 individuals were killed in anti-drug operations by law enforcement, though human rights groups claim the actual number of deaths could be significantly higher, with estimates reaching up to 30,000.
Many of these casualties were alleged to be extrajudicial killings, drawing widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally.
Espenido also acknowledged that during the height of the bloody drug war, many protested against these human rights violations.