“License to Kill”

Such execution-style killings are normally reported as “vigilante” killings, but in this case
the circumstances indicate involvement by both by the police and barangay officials.
Human Rights Watch was unable to find any reference in police reports to the killing of
Danilo, despite an extensive search through the police records of that period.
Renaldo Agrigado, Raffy Sardido, Roldan Amora, September 27
Delpan, Binondo, Manila
Renaldo Agrigado, 53, was a shabu user, according to his relatives. 175 In July, following the
start of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, local police officials asked him and his son Reygie
Agrigado, a known drug dealer, to surrender to the police. 176 The son was jailed for his
suspected involvement in drug dealing, while the father was told to report every two weeks
to his barangay chairman to ensure that he had stopped using drugs. The family said that
Renaldo had indeed stopped using drugs following his surrender. 177
At about 9 p.m. on September 27, police officers led by SAID-SOTU police conducted one
of many large-scale drug raids in the Binondo neighborhood, detaining as many as 100
residents at a local basketball court for screening. 178
According to his relative, Renaldo Agrigado was sleeping at his home with his wife and
children when armed men dressed in civilian clothes, knocked on the door. After Agrigado
opened the door, the armed men, later identified in the police report as undercover police
officers, dragged him outside and ordered everyone out of their one-room home. Once the
relatives were outside, the armed men took Agrigado back into the room. 179
From outside, neighbors and relatives heard Agrigado begging for his life and screaming
from what they assumed was physical violence being inflicted by the gunmen. Soon
175 Human Rights Watch interview with relative of Renaldo Agrigado, name withheld, Binondo, October 18, 2016.
176 Ibid.
177 Ibid.
178 Ibid.
179 Ibid.
LICENSE TO KILL 62