Senate to proceed with probe on extrajudicial killings

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate will proceed with the investigation into the rising incidents of extrajudicial killings set for today by embattled Sen. Leila de Lima, chairperson of the committee on justice and human rights, who was accused by President Duterte of illegal drug links.

For his part, Duterte lamented the attitude of people caring about the more than 600 people killed in the war on drugs but mum about the over 600,000 drug users who surrendered and in need of rehabilitation.

Some senators expressed concern that the inquiry might not have credibility since De Lima would preside.

De Lima’s panel will conduct the probe on the summary executions happening in the course of Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, jointly with the committee on public order and dangerous drugs chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

“The joint public hearing will hear and receive testimonies from witnesses of extrajudicial killings and summary executions, reports of concerned government agencies on the spate of killings, position papers of resource persons, look into results of investigations of concerned agencies, and come up with initial conclusions and observations for legislative remedy,” an advisory from De Lima’s office stated.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, who remains cool to the probe, said Lacson’s committee could provide the credibility to the inquiry as De Lima continued to be on the defensive.

Lacson said “rightly or wrongly, the public could think that the Senate investigation is already tainted.”

“And not without reason, (Senator) De Lima… might be perceived as either holding her punches or blindsided due to the recent accusations bordering on her personal integrity by no less than President Duterte,” Lacson said in a text message.

Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, said he would focus more on the vigilante killings as reported by PNP chief, Director General Ronald dela Rosa last week at the Senate.

“I’d like to pick the brain of the police on the way forward, that is, the end state they have in mind, say, after six months of fighting illegal drugs, their way,” the senator said.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano expressed fears the hearings would be used by “certain political forces” to hit Duterte and weaken the ongoing war on drugs.

“This is the first time that our judges are no longer scared, our fiscals are no longer afraid, our policemen are not afraid (to fight the menace),” Cayetano said in a telephone interview.

Cayetano prefers that Lacson take the lead in the probe as De Lima was so into her “get Duterte attitude as she was in last seven years.”

The better tack is for De Lima to get extensive briefings from law enforcement agencies and find out what help they need to fight illegal drugs, he said.

“There are truly legitimate human rights concerns here as raised by those who are not into politicking or (who have no) hidden agenda that must be looked into but these must be placed in proper context,” Cayetano said.

He said De Lima was making it appear the situation in the country was like the “wild, wild West” and this was causing confusion among international bodies like the United Nations.

Sen. Richard Gordon, who prefers the PNP and other agencies in the executive branch conduct the probe first into the killings, admitted that he was not too comfortable with De Lima presiding over the investigation. But Gordon stressed he has nothing against her.

Gordon told dzBB that De Lima must disprove the serious allegations against her and defend her record as justice secretary when illegal drugs supposedly proliferated under her watch.

He also cited De Lima’s refusal to be interpellated by her colleagues when she delivered a privilege speech on the extrajudicial killings.

With drugs prevalent in communities and schools, he said he could understand why Duterte sometimes made strong statements.

He said it was unlikely the Senate as an institution would come to De Lima’s defense. “What happens to us if the allegations were proven?” Gordon asked.

But Gordon also said Duterte could be held accountable if proven that he was behind the spate of killings and assuming an impeachment complaint was filed against him in the House of Representatives.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, who is De Lima’s partymate in the Liberal Party, however downplayed his colleagues’ concerns saying she should be given the benefit of the doubt.