2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines 61 killings. The consistent rhetoric and actions of the Duterte administration which targets not just activists and human rights defenders, but almost anyone who dares criticize the government, created a detrimental atmosphere especially for human rights activists, which has led to reported assassinations.261 209 The CHR believes that red-tagging, rather than promoting democracy, erodes it. A healthy democracy allows critical views to surface in the marketplace of ideas and public discourse. If a democratic government is one which is of the people, then the latter should be allowed to peacefully express their discontent Extra-judicial Killings (EJKs) during the COVID-19 Pandemic 210 Since PRRD was elected to the presidency in 2016, more than 27,000 suspected drug peddlers have been killed in a mix of police operations and vigilante killings. Additionally, almost 250 human rights defenders have been killed. These include unionists, lawyers, journalists, and environmentalists. The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Chief Michelle Bachelet released a report sometime in June 2020 that characterized President Duterte’s rule as “heavy-handed,” which resulted in killings that are “widespread, systematic, and ongoing.”262 211 Responding to the report of the HRC Chief Bachelet, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that the Philippines has set up an inter-agency panel that would investigate the claims of EJKs and “judiciously review” the more than 5,600 police operations where deaths occurred. Meanwhile, Cristina Palabay, secretary-general of human rights watchdog Karapatan, is skeptical of Sec. Guevarra’s claim. She said that various task forces and commissions were created but do not deliver justice and accountability.263 212 The CHR-NCR Office docketed 114 cases of EJK in 2020. As to whether drug or nondrug-related, 92 cases have indications that they are drug-related killing, while 12 cases appear to be non-drug-related. Ten (10) of the total 114 docketed EJK cases transpired this year (2020), one in 2019, two in 2018, 25 in 2017, 66 in 2016, and 10 are still undetermined. As to respondents, 87 of the total docketed EJK cases have unidentified respondent(s) while 27 cases involve personnel of law enforcement agencies.264 213 PRRD administration’s war on drugs did not stop even during the pandemic. From 31 March to 31 May 2020, law enforcement agencies conducted 5,840 anti-drug enforcement operations, which resulted in arrests of 10,105 suspects and death of 67. PNP Chief Archie Gamboa said in a statement last 26 May 2020 that there is no let-up in the anti-illegal drug operations, even with the ongoing health crisis. The government’s figures gave credence to the statistics that State agents killed 42 suspects during the lockdown from 15 March to 5 May 2020. Similarly, the CHR was also able to document 69 alleged EJKs perpetrated during the lockdown.265 261 Gavilan, J. (2020, August 19). Duterte ushers in new level of danger for activists, human rights defenders. Retrieved from Rappler: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/rodrigo-duterte-ushers-new-level-danger-activistshuman-rights-defenders. 262 Santos, Ana P. “Duterte’s Four Years in Power – extrajudicial killings, rights abuse and terror,” DW.com, 7 July 2020. https://www.dw.com/en/dutertes-four-years-in-power-extrajudicial-killings-rights-abuses-and-terror/a-54082293, accessed 30 September 2020. 263 Ibid. 264 CHR-NCR’s Situationer on Extrajudicial Killing Cases (1st Sem 2020). Quezon City: CHR National Capital Region Office. 265 Talabong, Rambo. “Coronavirus Doesn’t Stop Duterte’s Anti-Drug Campaign,” Rappler, 18 July 2020 https://www. rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/coronavirus-does-not-stop-duterte-anti-drug-campaign, accessed 30 September 2020.