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February 25, 2026 | 2:06pm
This file photo taken on May 18, 2017, shows police officers investigating an alleged drug dealer killed by unidentified gunman in Manila. A SWS survey in December 2018 suggests 78 percent of Filipinos are worried that they or someone they know would become victims of extrajudicial killings.
AFP / Noel Celis
MANILA, Philippines — Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said that local investigations in Rodrigo Duterte’s "war on drugs” remain elusive due to systematic purging of evidence and the intimidation of witnesses.
In an interview with ANC on Wednesday, February 25, Carpio said the primary obstacle to domestic prosecution is the disappearance of crucial documentation.
“The best proof na hindi kaya, all the evidence, all of these police reports, the DOJ cannot find them. That's why they cannot start an investigation,” Carpio said.
“So you cannot even start an investigation because they've (police) cleaned up all the police records,” he added.
Carpio also pointed out the pervasive atmosphere of fear that prevents witnesses from testifying in local courts.
He said that the influence of the Duterte camp remains strong enough to suppress testimonies if the cases are filed within the country.
"The Duterte people can still intimidate the witnesses here in the Philippines if the cases are filed here," Carpio said.
He pointed out that the total absence of filed cases against the implementors of the drug war is one of the proofs that the local system is stalled by fear.
“The best proof of that is that there has been no cases filed against these people because one of fear of witnesses. Second because they've cleaned up the police records, and how can you go against the police here?” Carpio said.
The second day of the confirmation of charges on the crimes against humanity of murder against Duterte was heard on February 24.
During the second day, the prosecution presented pieces of evidence through videos and testimonies showing how the war on drugs was implemented at the national level and in Davao City when Duterte was still a mayor.
The prosecution also revealed that police killings spiked by 590% during the war on drugs.
RELATED: Under Duterte’s drug war, police killings rose 590%
