MANILA – Families of 27 victims of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs on Friday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to resolve their pending amparo petition seeking to invalidate the police memorandum circulars that served as the basis for the implementation of Operation Tokhang.

In a nine-page manifestation, the petitioners asked the high court to issue a permanent protection order and declare Philippine National Police Command Memorandum Circular No. 16-2016, as amended by CMC No. 01-2017, unconstitutional, illegal and unenforceable.

Represented by lawyers Joel Butuyan and Gilbert Andres, the families said there is an urgent need for judicial protection amid alleged harassment following the prosecution of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“(T)here is renewed urgency for their prayer for the privilege of the writ of Amparo given the right of systematic disinformation, ‘fake’ news, propaganda and other forms of harassment against the families and communities of the murdered ‘war on drugs’ victims, especially brought about by the prosecution of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court,” they argued.

The manifestation was filed on the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

The petitioners said a ruling from the Supreme Court would reinforce the country’s judicial system.

“(A) judicial declaration by the SC ‘will lend credence to the assertion that the Philippines has a working judicial system.’”

They added that a definitive decision from the high court is necessary to uphold constitutional rights.

“And only through such a definitive ruling can this High Court fully discharge its sacred mandate, vindicate the Constitution, and ensure that never again shall the fundamental rights to life, liberty, and security of every Filipino be sacrificed at the altar of violent and oppressive governance,” the petitioners said.