The Philippines Commission on Human Rights vowed to investigate the killing of a criminal suspect shot dead in Manila this week, as anxiety grows over the rising number of deaths tied to the president-elect’s crackdown calls.
Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte scored a landslide win in elections last month after running on a ruthless anti-crime platform, with a spate of recent criminal killings by police spurring fears of a extra-judicial clampdown.
Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana vowed to investigate the killing of Alfie Turado, a suspect in a rape and robbery case who was shot dead by police in Manila. Police say Turado was only shot after attempting to grab the arresting officer’s gun.
“We have to find out if certain rights were violated in the arrest,” Pimentel-Gana told ABS-CBN television in remarks aired Saturday.
“The reason why the suspects were killed is because they engaged in shootouts (with) law enforcers,” Mayor told reporters. uar is dead,” but made no mention of paying any bounties.
After the incident Senior Superintendent Jemar Modequillo denied that a potential payday led to the killing, saying “we don’t do rub-outs.”
An assault rifle and a pistol were seized from the slain men, he told AFP.

Source: Arab News