NBI starts case buildup vs cops in drug war deaths

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 9) — The National Bureau of Investigation has started its own investigation into 52 cases of deaths in the government's drug war referred by the Department of Justice, NBI spokesman Ferdinand Lavin said Tuesday.

"Gumugulong na ito, imiikot na ito," Lavin said in a Laging Handa briefing.

[Translation: This is already underway.]

He added the bureau earlier created investigating teams from across the country, including Mindanao, Metro Manila, Laguna, and Quezon.

The DOJ previously found "possible criminal liability" of police officers involved in the drug war cases it reviewed. Possible sanctions include murder or homicide charges, if proven there was really an intention to kill the drug suspects, DOJ Undersecretary Adrian Sugay said.

He added the NBI will file criminal complaints if warranted by the evidence.