We demand justice for Jonas, Karen, Sherlyn, Dexter, Bazoo, and for all those whose names we may never know. We stand firm in our resolve to seek justice, to bring the truth to light, and to ensure that these injustices are never forgotten.

The Decision is a stark departure from jurisprudence concerning the fundamental rights to life, liberty, and security. As held in Deduro, the right to security exists independently of the right to liberty and it not only prohibits the State from arbitrarily depriving liberty, but also imposes a positive duty on the State to afford protection for the right.

His statements only reinforce the reasonable belief that he is most responsible for crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines in the context of the “war on drugs”. And that in effect, he intends to deprive victims of their chance at accountability for thousands of killings.