The Court Cases

Several court cases filed since late 2016 contest the official narrative that the police killed drug suspects in self defense. These cases allege that some of these antidrug operations were summary executions.

The most detailed descriptions can be found in the petitions for writs of amparo (protection) filed before the Supreme Court by relatives and friends of drug suspects killed by the police. The petitioners appealed to the Supreme Court for protection because, as witnesses to the police killings or as residents of communities where the police were conducting antidrug operations, they feared for their lives.

These petitions include:

Petition for Writ of Amparo filed by Christina Macandog Gonzales, whose husband Joselito was gunned down by policemen during a drug bust operation in Antipolo City on July 5, 2016.

Petition for Writ of Amparo filed by Efren Morillo, Martino Morillo, Victoria Morillo, Ma. Belen Daa, Maribeth Bartolay, Lydia Gabo, Jennifer Nicolas, and Marilyn Malimban. Petitioners were witnesses to the killing on August 21, 2016 of four men, alleged by the police to be drug dealers.

Petition for Writ of Amparo filed by 40 petitioners led by Sister Ma. Juanita R. Daño, a nun who lives in San Andres Manila, on behalf of residents of 28 barangays in San Andres Bukid, Manila.  The petition described “systematic violence” conducted on the residents by members of Police Station 6 of the Manila Police District.