63
2020 Annual Report on the Human Rights Situation in the Philippines
the first attempt and
barangay officials rushed
him to the hospital.
After an hour, a gunman
entered the hospital and
shot Adia twice, leading
to his death.
221
The CHR, in its statement
dated 5 November 2020,
strongly condemns the
brutal killing of Vincent
Adia inside a hospital.
The CHR continues to
plead to the government
to concretely address the
continuing atrocities and
vigilante killings. To its
best effort, the CHR
Region-IV has dispatched
a quick response team to investigate the case and monitor it to its end.275
222
The last time the Philippine government released official data about the total number of
EJKs in the country was in December 2019. The PDEA tallied 5,563 cases as of 31 December
2019, while the PNP recorded 6,600 cases as of 18 June 2019, whereas human rights
organizations cited 27,000+ EJK cases as of December 2018.276 277 During the lockdown,
Philippine authorities continuously enforced President Duterte’s anti-drug crusade. From
a media report, law enforcement agencies conducted 5,840 anti-drug operations, where
they arrested 10,105 suspects from 31 March to 31 May 2020. These operations also led to
67 deaths.278
223
There are a total of 229 alleged drug-related EJK incidents investigated by the CHR
during pandemic.279 Below is the breakdown of cases per region:
Alleged Drug-Related EJK Incidents Taken Cognizance by the CHR in 2020
Regions
Number of Cases Investigated
Investigation Office
8
NCR
94
CAR
5
I
0
II
0
III
17
IV-A
25
IV-B
0
275
See http://chr.gov.ph/statement-of-chr-spokesperson-atty-jacqueline-de-guia-on-the-brutal-killing-of-an-ejksurvivor-inside-a-hospital-in-angono-rizal/.
276
See https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/numbers-statistics-philippines-war-drugs.
277
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1131433/6600-killed-in-war-vs-drugs-from-july-2016-to-may-2019-pnp.
278
See https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/coronavirus-does-not-stop-duterte-anti-drug-campaign.
279
See Commission on Human Rights Investigation office report.