The Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police has started its motu proprio investigation of a Reuters report into the killings carried out by policemen in a drug raid last month in in Manila's Tondo district.
IAS wrote to Reuters to request for a "duly authenticated copy of the unedited/raw videos of the said incident or other relevant video coverage in your possession" to help them in their investigation.
Under Rule 6, Section 2 of the Philippine National Police Pre-Charge Evaluation and Summary Hearing Guide, one of the mandated functions of IAS is to investigate complaints and gather evidence in support of an open investigation.
Any violation of human rights in the conduct of police operation shall be recommended automatically for dismissal or demotion as stated in Section 5 of the manual.
The Reuters report, published on Monday, showed a security camera footage and eyewitness accounts of the suspicious killing of three men in Tondo during an anti-illegal drug operation.
The operation conducted by Manila Police Station District 2 resulted in the death of Rolando Campo, 60; Sherwin Vita, 24; and a certain "Kalbo."
Internal Affairs Service, Philippine National Police, PNP-IAS, Tondo, Manila, Reuters, war on drugs