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Groups hit Senate’s drug war probe
By Nidz Godino
“Today, as an investigation into ‘war on drugs’ by Senate opens, we are aghast that it has become platform for those involved and accused,” as Senate opened its probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, two organizations representing victims of extrajudicial killings questioned hearing’s impartiality.
Rise Up for Life and for Rights and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), represented by human rights lawyers Neri Colmenares and Kristina Conti, said Senate Blue Ribbon Committee includes members facing allegations alongside Duterte.
They were referring to Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s former special assistant when he was president, and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, his police chief and the drug war architect.
House Quad Committee, first to conduct congressional probe into EJKs, revealed through testimonies from police lieutenants appointed by Duterte that Go and Dela Rosa are allegedly involved in the bloody war on drugs and reward system for every killed drug suspect.
During Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s first hearing, Go devoted over 15 minutes in his opening speech to defend himself and Duterte against allegations.
This is contradictory to Go’s statement in interview on Sept. 24, 2019, where he said reward would be given to those who kill “ninja cops,” referring to police officers involved in illegal drug trade.
| Duterte to name ‘ninja’ copsPresident Duterte will soon divulge the names of ranking officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) allege… |
“I think he will personally announce to the public kung sino po yung sangkot na ito…at importante pong si pangulo ang magsasabi…sabi niya, karapatan po ng Pilipinong malaman kung sino po ang ninja cops…nabanggit din po niyang, nandyan pa rin po ‘yung reward na kanyang sinabi noon. P1 million sa mga ninja cops patay… ‘pag buhay, kalahating milyon lang po… ‘pag lumaban, P2 million,” Go said.
Go maintained his statement had nothing to do with war on drugs.
“Hindi po war on drugs ‘yun…kung panonoorin niyo po ang full video, hindi ko po tinutukoy ang reward system sa war on drugs dito…tungkol ‘yan sa pagtugis sa ninja cops,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dela Rosa appeared irritable and frustrated, raising his voice for much of hearing as resource persons explained how police failed to investigate numerous EJK cases. Many times, he merely defended himself from allegations.
The former police chief even accused one resource person of using these EJK cases as propaganda against government, questioning why they had not reported lack of investigation to police.
Colmenares and Conti said in statement that the two senators’ behavior “raises significant questions over independence and effectiveness” of Senate inquiry. Similar to worries of House lawmakers, hearing might “serve as whitewash,” they stressed.
“Senators Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go and Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa had neither decency nor discretion to inhibit themselves, despite persistent and credible allegations of their participation in the whole scheme of things,” lawyers said.
Rise Up and NUPL concluded in their statement that Duterte’s absence at House Quad Comm’s hearings exhibits his “imprudence and impertinence” towards lower chamber.
“His presence at Senate today, alongside those alleged to be his henchmen or supporters, is sinister,” they added.
The former president, according to his legal counsel, excused himself from House hearing on October 22 because he was feeling under weather. Duterte also said that he prefers to attend after November 1.
However, Duterte was seen attending Senate’s probe on October 28, throwing curse words in almost every sentence and interrupting senators and resource persons as they spoke.
Duterte also claimed he should be held accountable for leading drug war, rather than police officers who “only followed his orders,” though he expressed no remorse over extrajudicial killings committed.
ISKUP! 