Hontiveros expects Senate probe to uncover truth on drug war killings
Jamayka Rhose Pascual
Senator Risa Hontiveros, during her opening statement at the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on October 28, expressed her hope that the investigation could reveal the truth behind "questionable" killings during the war on drugs under former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Photo Courtesy of Lino Santos/Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau. |
This marks Duterte’s first appearance at Senate investigations on the war on drugs, after failing to attend previous Quad Comm hearings, stating he was not feeling well.
According to Hontiveros, the campaign left a huge death toll on Filipino youth, noting that 122 minors were reported dead, with the youngest victim being just one year old.
The senator also stressed that these were not isolated incidents, citing a specific night in 2017 when 32 deaths were reported in Bulacan and another 26 deaths in Manila alone.
She then pointed to the highly publicized case of Kian Delos Santos, a minor killed in a police war on drugs operation after being accused of working as a drug runner for his alleged drug pusher family.
The police justified Delos Santos’ killing by claiming he resisted arrest and that they were just defending themselves.
Hontiveros then added that the hearing goes beyond individual cases, as every individual affected by the war on drugs is a victim of this systemic abuse.
“Kulang ang anumang imbestigasyon kung ‘di siya tatanungin, ngunit hindi ‘to tungkol lang sakaniya dahil bawat biktima ng Extrajudicial Killings at mga naulila nila ay biktima ng sistematikong panga-abuso,” Hontiveros emphasized.
Hontiveros further argued that the campaign was an organized attempt to execute alleged individuals linked with illegal drugs.
“Pare-pareho ang resulta ng mga imbestigasyon, may organized killing lists, summary of executions, may mga allegations ng planted na ebidensya hanggang sa nabalot na ng takot ang mga barangay natin,” the senator stated.
Hontiveros then noted that Duterte’s actions and the implementation of the war on drugs betrayed the public trust in law enforcement and justice.
“It should not be an honor to be called a punisher when thousands of innocent people including babies have died in your name,” she added.
Duterte, on the other hand, countered these claims during his opening statement, defending his actions during his term as the president.
According to Duterte, his duty to his country justified the measures he implemented, which he viewed as needed sacrifices for the greater good.
“I have warned all of you as the president and then as a private citizen now, that drugs will destroy the Filipino. It will destroy my country, and I will never allow it,” he declared.